Region | Iraq

Looking beyond Talabani

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani who underwent a critical surgery in the United States a few weeks ago is slated to return to Baghdad soon but senior government leaders are apparently in readiness should his health take a turn for the worse and there is need for a replacement.

  • By Basil Adas, Correspondent
  • Published: 23:52 September 20, 2008
  • Gulf News

Baghdad: Iraq's President Jalal Talabani who underwent a critical surgery in the United States a few weeks ago is slated to return to Baghdad soon but senior government leaders are apparently in readiness should his health take a turn for the worse and there is need for a replacement.

Talabani's frail health comes at a sensitive time for the city of Sulaimaniya, a stronghold of his party. According to political observers in Sulaimaniya, the party has been gripped by fears that Iran and Turkey will take advantage of any instability to disintegrate Kurdistan.

"There are strategic plans leaders in the region have agreed on to control the situation in case of an emergency; the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Masoud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan will ensure that ... there will be no change to pacts," Khasro Curran, a political aid to Barzani told Gulf News.

"There is no scope for disputes in Sulaimaniya over authority after the death of the president and the political bureau of the party has a plan to convene a general conference to choose a successor to the president in the event of his death," said Sewa Al Jaaf, a leader of the Patriotic Union.

Nourshirwan Moustafa Ameen, the ex-vice president who left the party following differences in 2007, is being seen as a common threat.

"I think the most promising candidate for the position is Barham Saleh, who currently serves as deputy prime minister," said Dalman Mohammad Ahmad, spokesman of the Kurdistan Communist Party allied with Talabani's party.

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