Plans to 'invest in execution' for support to reconciliation

Baghdad: The Iraqi security and political scene is preparing for a new phase after Saddam Hussain's execution while awaiting US President George W. Bush's new Iraq strategy and Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's new Baghdad security plan and further steps for national reconciliation.

Bush and Al Maliki are expected to announce plans in the next two days.

Mariam Al Rayes, the Iraqi Prime Minister advisor, told Gulf News: "Al Maliki wants to invest [in] Saddam Hussain's execution to support reconciliation process with the Sunni clans and some Baathists."

Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Deputy, Nasser Al Abadi, said to Gulf News: "The future American strategy's main factor is to deliver 70 per cent of the military combat and ... missions to the Iraqi forces, this development would make the new Baghdad security plan, starting next Friday, more effective.

"The role of the American forces would be limited to support the Iraqi forces combat operations, this new American strategy would speed up arming Iraqi troops as well."

He added: "Al Maliki wants ... other solutions [too] especially promoting national reconciliation."

According to the new strategy, it is likely that President Bush would decide to send more American forces to Iraq. Najeeb Al Salihi, the free officers movement leader, told Gulf News: "[Increasing] the American troop levels means two things. The Americans think that Iraqi security condition is very critical, beside this increasingly is closely related to the American-Iranian confrontation in the region."

Adnan Al Dulaimi, Sunni Accordance Front leader, told Gulf News: "According to the obligations made by President Bush, this strategy aims to achieve sectarian balance within Iraqi state institutions."

The Sunnis reportedly want to direct significant strikes to Shiite militias through Bush's strategy while the Shiite coalition led by Abdul Aziz Al Hakim wants to hit out against the Sunni gunmen.

Osama Al Najafi, a figure close to former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, doubts the usefulness of the new US strategy as the situation in Iraq has reached a "perilous, slippery slope".

The Iraqi Prime Minister advisor said: "Reconciliation is heading to achieve better results because there is a general belief ... that a new page in Iraqi history has [been turned] after [the] execution."