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Iraq's Sunni-backed bloc faces key decision Thursday
January 25, 2012 10:48 PM
By Suadad al-Salhy
BAGHDAD: Leaders of Iraq's Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc will meet on Thursday to decide whether to continue its boycott of parliament or escalate its protest by leaving the government.
Disputes within Iraqiya are threatening to tear the cross-sectarian alliance apart.
The fracture of Iraqiya or its exit from the government could strengthen the hand of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. His move against two top Sunni politicians sparked Iraq's worst political crisis in a year and raised fears of renewed sectarian conflict.
The inclusion of Iraqiya -- which won the most seats in 2010 elections with strong support from the Sunni minority -- in Maliki's coalition government was considered a key to preventing a slide back into sectarian violence.
Lawmakers said its breakup or move into opposition was unlikely to cause a major disruption of parliament, which can reach a quorum to pass laws without the bloc.
They said Maliki could quickly replace boycotting Sunni ministers with other Sunni lawmakers from the fragmented alliance.
"A shift to the opposition now is wrong ... (it) won't solve the problems of Iraqiya or any other bloc," said Arshad al-Salhy, a senior Turkmen lawmaker with Iraqiya.
"The decisions are made by the majority and (Iraqiya) opposition will have no value," he said.
Iraqiya factions have been at odds since the bloc announced its boycott in the wake of the political crisis sparked by the government's move to arrest Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is accused of running death squads. Maliki then asked parliament to oust his Sunni deputy, Saleh al-Mutlaq.
The political blocs held their first talks last week since the start of the crisis, which could scuttle a fragile power-sharing government among Sunni Muslims, Shi'ites and Kurds.
While Iraqiya is boycotting parliament and some of its ministers are avoiding cabinet meetings, others are still working, illustrating the deep splits in the bloc.
"The prevalent opinion is to shift to the opposition, and decisively leave the political process," said Hamid al-Mutlaq, a senior Sunni Iraqiya lawmaker. (But) the opinions have not matured yet. Continuing the boycott is strongly supported."
Maliki has said the coalition government is not working. Analysts say he may be trying to push Iraqiya to the sidelines to form a majority in an alliance with Kurdish factions.
NEW VIOLENCE?
Violence in Iraq has ebbed since the darkest days of the conflict following the 2003 invasion. But attacks on Shi'ite pilgrims and other targets since the crisis erupted are fuelling worries the country may slip back into sectarian carnage.
Since the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein after the 2003 invasion, Iraq's Shi'ite majority have ascended, and many Sunnis feel they have been marginalised.
Iraq has seen some of its worst attacks in a year since the departure of the last U.S. troops on Dec. 18. In the latest, four car bombs exploded in mainly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 14 people and wounding 75.
Iraqiya won 91 seats in the March 2010 election but two groups of lawmakers have split -- one a group of 11 Shi'ites and secular Sunnis and the second an alliance of six secular Sunnis. A third group of 14 may join them.
Some groups within Iraqiya think a move into opposition could lead to more defections. "They (the leaders of Iraqiya) won't go into opposition and even bigger dissent will occur," said a senior Sunni Iraqiya lawmaker who declined to be named.
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January 25, 2012 10:48 PM
By Suadad al-Salhy
BAGHDAD: Leaders of Iraq's Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc will meet on Thursday to decide whether to continue its boycott of parliament or escalate its protest by leaving the government.
Disputes within Iraqiya are threatening to tear the cross-sectarian alliance apart.
The fracture of Iraqiya or its exit from the government could strengthen the hand of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. His move against two top Sunni politicians sparked Iraq's worst political crisis in a year and raised fears of renewed sectarian conflict.
The inclusion of Iraqiya -- which won the most seats in 2010 elections with strong support from the Sunni minority -- in Maliki's coalition government was considered a key to preventing a slide back into sectarian violence.
Lawmakers said its breakup or move into opposition was unlikely to cause a major disruption of parliament, which can reach a quorum to pass laws without the bloc.
They said Maliki could quickly replace boycotting Sunni ministers with other Sunni lawmakers from the fragmented alliance.
"A shift to the opposition now is wrong ... (it) won't solve the problems of Iraqiya or any other bloc," said Arshad al-Salhy, a senior Turkmen lawmaker with Iraqiya.
"The decisions are made by the majority and (Iraqiya) opposition will have no value," he said.
Iraqiya factions have been at odds since the bloc announced its boycott in the wake of the political crisis sparked by the government's move to arrest Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is accused of running death squads. Maliki then asked parliament to oust his Sunni deputy, Saleh al-Mutlaq.
The political blocs held their first talks last week since the start of the crisis, which could scuttle a fragile power-sharing government among Sunni Muslims, Shi'ites and Kurds.
While Iraqiya is boycotting parliament and some of its ministers are avoiding cabinet meetings, others are still working, illustrating the deep splits in the bloc.
"The prevalent opinion is to shift to the opposition, and decisively leave the political process," said Hamid al-Mutlaq, a senior Sunni Iraqiya lawmaker. (But) the opinions have not matured yet. Continuing the boycott is strongly supported."
Maliki has said the coalition government is not working. Analysts say he may be trying to push Iraqiya to the sidelines to form a majority in an alliance with Kurdish factions.
NEW VIOLENCE?
Violence in Iraq has ebbed since the darkest days of the conflict following the 2003 invasion. But attacks on Shi'ite pilgrims and other targets since the crisis erupted are fuelling worries the country may slip back into sectarian carnage.
Since the fall of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein after the 2003 invasion, Iraq's Shi'ite majority have ascended, and many Sunnis feel they have been marginalised.
Iraq has seen some of its worst attacks in a year since the departure of the last U.S. troops on Dec. 18. In the latest, four car bombs exploded in mainly Shi'ite areas of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing 14 people and wounding 75.
Iraqiya won 91 seats in the March 2010 election but two groups of lawmakers have split -- one a group of 11 Shi'ites and secular Sunnis and the second an alliance of six secular Sunnis. A third group of 14 may join them.
Some groups within Iraqiya think a move into opposition could lead to more defections. "They (the leaders of Iraqiya) won't go into opposition and even bigger dissent will occur," said a senior Sunni Iraqiya lawmaker who declined to be named.
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