A strong message from a weak PM

One of the prerequisites of national reconciliation in Iraq has been the disbanding of armed militias that were at the heart of the bloody sectarian strife from 2006 to 2007.

Thus the decision by Iraq's political leaders to call for disarming those militias, irrespective of their sect, comes as a strong message that Iraq might finally be on the right track to tackle this fundamental issue.

Moreover, Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's ultimatum to the strongest of these militias, the Shiite Al Mahdi Army, to lay down its arms or be denied participation in the next elections, gives the struggling Shiite-led government a moral edge and a chance to move against militias in other parts of the country.

The move is also reflective of the gulf between the people and government, with Iraqis feeling more and more disappointed with their current leaders. And the latest confrontation between the Iraqi army and the Al Mahdi Army in Basra has dealt a blow to Al Maliki's efforts.

Moqtada Al Sadr has meanwhile emerged stronger and more influential than ever. Al Maliki and the new Iraqi army are being tested and the political repercussions of a failure are very threatening.

At this point, the Al Maliki government should aim to foster its legitimacy as truly representative of its citizens. Otherwise, the struggling prime minister will wind up being more isolated and weakened.