|
ARBIL,
Iraq, March 19 (AFP) - 15h58 - Kurdish leaders said
Saturday an agreement with the Shiites on an Iraqi
coalition government was now down to sharing the
presidency and cabinet posts with the participation
of others.
"We, the two main lists have agreed on the
principles and the door is open now for the other
lists," said outgoing Vice President Ruj Shawis, a
senior member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
"We have now entered into the details of forming the
government but we need a few more sessions to reach
a definitive agreement."
He confirmed that both sides have agreed that the
thorny issue of the fate of the disputed northern
oil city of Kirkuk and the Kurdish peshmerga militia
will be dealt with in accordance with the interim
Transitional Administrative Law passed under the
previous US-led occupation.
KDP leader Massoud Barzani met with the other
Kurdish chieftain Jalal Talabani in a resort outside
the northern Kurdish town of Arbil to discuss a
draft of the shape of the next government.
"These talks will shape the destiny of the Kurdish
people, so we have to discuss them with our other
brothers in as much detail as possible," said
Talabani. He added that he would favour the
participation of as many groupings as possible in
the next government including Sunnis and the
coalition headed by outgoing prime minister Iyad
Allawi.
"We want the Sunnis and Dr. Iyad Allawi to take
part."
A senior Shiite negotiator, Jawad Maliki, said a
proposal has been presented to Allawi's coalition
and that an answer is expected on Sunday.
Allawi, whose list won 40 seats in the new
parliament, has previously turned down a role in the
Shiite-Kurdish coalition if it meant occupying a
post other than a premiership, according to Maliki.
The Shiite United Iraqi Alliance, which holds 146
seats, has already nominated Ibrahim Jafaari for the
post.
Talabani is widely expected to be president, while a
Shiite and Sunni will occupy the two
vice-presidencies.
There is talk among Shiite circles that Allawi, a
secular Shiite, may be offered one of those deputy
slots.
Outgoing president Ghazi al-Yawar, a Sunni tribal
magnate, is a strong contender for the speakership
of parliament, which was inaugurated last Wednesday,
according to Maliki.
Maliki was hopeful a deal on the government would be
reached before a second parliamentary session
tentatively set for Thursday.
AFP
Top |
® 