Region | Iraq
Al Jaafari abandons quest
Under intense US pressure to solve Iraq's political deadlock, Prime Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari cleared the way for Shiite leaders to withdraw his nomination for a second term
- AP
- Published: 00:00 April 21, 2006
Baghdad: Under intense US pressure to solve Iraq's political deadlock, Prime Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari cleared the way for Shiite leaders to withdraw his nomination for a second term yesterday, a step that could mark a breakthrough in the months-long effort to form a new government.
Key to Al Jaafari's change of heart was pressure from UN envoy Ashraf Qazi and his meetings on Wednesday with the most powerful Shiite cleric in the country, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, and Muqtada Al Sadr, a radical cleric who has backed Al Jaafari, said Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman. "There was signal from Najaf," Othman said, referring to Al Sistani's office in the Shiite holy city. "Qazi's meetings with (Al Sistani) and Al Sadr were the chief reason that untied the knot."
With Al Jaafari apparently on the way out, Kurdish and Sunni leaders who had sharply opposed his nomination expressed optimism that they and Shiite parties would succeed in putting together a government.
Parliament session
The parties agreed to postpone a parliament session set for yesterday until tomorrow to give the Shiite coalition time to replace Al Jaafari with a new nominee.
"I am confident we will succeed in forming the national unity government that all Iraqis are hoping for," acting parliament speaker Adnan Pachachi told reporters.
The parties have been caught in a deadlock for months over Al Jaafari's nomination, preventing the creation of a government at a time of increasing sectarian violence.
Sunni and Kurdish parties blamed Al Jaafari for worsening the tensions with Sunnis pointing to his links to militiamen they accuse of killing members of their community.
Kurds also believed Al Jaafari had broken promises to support their claims in Kirkuk. The Kurds want to incorporate the area into their three-province self-governing region.
Yesterday, Al Jaafari told the Shiite coalition that they should vote again on their nominee the first sign that he has abandoned his quest to keep the prime minister's post, only a day after he had repeated his steadfast refusal to step down.
News Editor's choice
-
Allies quit ruling coalition in Nepal
Political row could trigger months of street protests and violence
-
Qatar blaze 'started at nursery'
Fire killed 19 including 13 children, at Doha’s main shopping centre
-
Jagan jailed over illegal assets
Andhra Pradesh leader accused of corruption, cheating, conspiracy
