Region | Iraq
Al Maliki wants constitution changed to bolster government
Iraq's Prime Minister on Saturday called for changes to the Iraqi constitution to give more power to the central government, especially in security and other key fields.
- AP
- Published: 21:36 November 8, 2008
Baghdad: Iraq's Prime Minister on Saturday called for changes to the Iraqi constitution to give more power to the central government, especially in security and other key fields.
The comments by Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, who was a member of the committee that drafted the constitution in 2005, appeared directed at the Kurds, who enjoy extensive autonomy in their three-province region of northern Iraq.
It may also have been directed at his Shiite rivals who want a similar, nine-province autonomous region in the south.
"A strong federal government must be built which has full responsibility over security, sovereignty and other issues," Al Maliki told a conference in Baghdad.
"We have in the constitution exclusive federal responsibilities, exclusive provincial responsibilities and common responsibilities, and all other responsibilities are for the provinces. I think this is not right. Basically, responsibility should be given to the federal government, which undertakes building and protecting the country," he said.
Al Maliki spoke during a period of rising tension in the north between Kurds and Arabs, who have accused the Kurds of trying to expand their region to include areas under central government control.
The Kurds have also signed contracts with foreign oil companies to exploit oil fields in their region.
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