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MP: Maliki’s bloc will support US force extension if political dispute continues
26/06/2011 21:56
Basra, June 26 (AKnews) – A member of the State of Law Coalition (SLC) led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Sunday that his bloc would support an extension of the US forces stay in Iraq if the political dispute in the country continues.
The statement is the first public support - however tentative - for a US extension in Iraq by the PM’s bloc. Maliki had said earlier that he would leave the decision to the political blocs.
“The continuation of the political disputes which have now hit a deadlock force us to change our minds and call for an extension of the US forces stay until the political crisis is over,” said the SLC’s Basra MP Jawad al-Bazzouni.
The SLC’s change of political stance comes shortly after firebrand Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday that the Sadrists will not tolerate the presence of US forces on Iraqi soil beyond 2011, by any means.
Sadr has repeatedly threatened to mobilize the frozen Mahdi army – the same force that fought the American and Iraqi armies at the height of sectarian violence in 2008 – if the US troops remain beyond the December 2011 mandate.
According to a security deal between Iraq and the US in 2008, the remaining 45,000 US troops must quit Iraq by the end of 2011.
Disputes between the SLC and its main rival, the al-Iraqiya list, led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, over the distribution of power, have been raging for nearly seven months.
Observers have warned that the continuation of the political quarrel has reflected on the country’s security and stability as disputed key government slots remain unfilled.
“The current political situation is beset with uncertainty and volatility,” al-Bazzouni said, “…this means a strategic change now may not be in the best interest of the country.”
Written by Raber Y. Aziz, reporting by Baha al-Kadhemi (AKnews)
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26/06/2011 21:56
Basra, June 26 (AKnews) – A member of the State of Law Coalition (SLC) led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Sunday that his bloc would support an extension of the US forces stay in Iraq if the political dispute in the country continues.
The statement is the first public support - however tentative - for a US extension in Iraq by the PM’s bloc. Maliki had said earlier that he would leave the decision to the political blocs.
“The continuation of the political disputes which have now hit a deadlock force us to change our minds and call for an extension of the US forces stay until the political crisis is over,” said the SLC’s Basra MP Jawad al-Bazzouni.
The SLC’s change of political stance comes shortly after firebrand Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday that the Sadrists will not tolerate the presence of US forces on Iraqi soil beyond 2011, by any means.
Sadr has repeatedly threatened to mobilize the frozen Mahdi army – the same force that fought the American and Iraqi armies at the height of sectarian violence in 2008 – if the US troops remain beyond the December 2011 mandate.
According to a security deal between Iraq and the US in 2008, the remaining 45,000 US troops must quit Iraq by the end of 2011.
Disputes between the SLC and its main rival, the al-Iraqiya list, led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, over the distribution of power, have been raging for nearly seven months.
Observers have warned that the continuation of the political quarrel has reflected on the country’s security and stability as disputed key government slots remain unfilled.
“The current political situation is beset with uncertainty and volatility,” al-Bazzouni said, “…this means a strategic change now may not be in the best interest of the country.”
Written by Raber Y. Aziz, reporting by Baha al-Kadhemi (AKnews)
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