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Iraq’s political uncertainty intensifies
Monday, December 26, 1:35 PM
BAGHDAD — A group of Iraqi lawmakers linked to anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Monday that the country’s parliament should be dissolved and new elections held within six months.
The move signals a growing rift between Sadr and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki — both Shiite leaders — and underscores the political uncertainty swirling around Baghdad. Sadr is positioning himself as the country’s problem solver amid growing tensions between Shiite and Sunni leaders and is trying to build an even larger following, according to analysts.
A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a checkpoint in Baghdad, killing seven people (Dec. 26)
In calling for a new parliament, Baha al-Araji, head of the Sadrist Trend political bloc, said the nation’s government is not addressing basic needs in the country.
“The current political process cannot reach solutions to the problems that are facing Iraq, especially the constant threats to divide the country,” Araji said in a statement delivered inside the parliament building.
But other politicians dismissed the move as the Sadrists trying to absorb attention amid the political turmoil. “I don’t think he’s serious about that,” Sami al-Askari, a leading Iraqi politician and member of Maliki’s State of Law Coalition, said in an interview Monday, referring to the call for a new parliament.
Separately, in Najaf, a radical insurgency group known as Asaib al Haq said it would join the political process — and possibly run candidates for the parliament.
“The political process is a limp one, and it doesn’t give enough to the Iraqis, and it didn’t make Iraq as strong as should be,” said Qais al Khazali, who was accused by the United States of carrying out a 2007 attack in which five Americans died.
The group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against Americans in Iraq in recent years.
Special correspondent Aziz Alwan contributed to this report.
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Monday, December 26, 1:35 PM
BAGHDAD — A group of Iraqi lawmakers linked to anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said Monday that the country’s parliament should be dissolved and new elections held within six months.
The move signals a growing rift between Sadr and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki — both Shiite leaders — and underscores the political uncertainty swirling around Baghdad. Sadr is positioning himself as the country’s problem solver amid growing tensions between Shiite and Sunni leaders and is trying to build an even larger following, according to analysts.
A suicide bomber detonated a car bomb at a checkpoint in Baghdad, killing seven people (Dec. 26)
In calling for a new parliament, Baha al-Araji, head of the Sadrist Trend political bloc, said the nation’s government is not addressing basic needs in the country.
“The current political process cannot reach solutions to the problems that are facing Iraq, especially the constant threats to divide the country,” Araji said in a statement delivered inside the parliament building.
But other politicians dismissed the move as the Sadrists trying to absorb attention amid the political turmoil. “I don’t think he’s serious about that,” Sami al-Askari, a leading Iraqi politician and member of Maliki’s State of Law Coalition, said in an interview Monday, referring to the call for a new parliament.
Separately, in Najaf, a radical insurgency group known as Asaib al Haq said it would join the political process — and possibly run candidates for the parliament.
“The political process is a limp one, and it doesn’t give enough to the Iraqis, and it didn’t make Iraq as strong as should be,” said Qais al Khazali, who was accused by the United States of carrying out a 2007 attack in which five Americans died.
The group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks against Americans in Iraq in recent years.
Special correspondent Aziz Alwan contributed to this report.
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