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We have now entered into the details of forming the
government
20.3.2005
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Iraq (Kurdistan) :
talks were continuing on the formation of the
new government between the election-winning Shiite
United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) and the Kurdish Alliance
after the country's first free election in half a
century on January 30.
Leaders of the Kurdish Alliance confirmed yesterday
that they have reached an agreement with the Shiites
over the principles of the next government and the
thorny issue of the fate of the disputed northern
oil city of Kirkuk and the Kurdish peshmerga
militia.
Both sides have agreed that the issues will be dealt
with in accordance with the interim laws passed
under the previous US-led occupation.
"We, the two main lists, have agreed on the
principles and the door is open now for the other
lists," said outgoing vice president and senior
member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Ruj
Shawis.
"We have now entered into the details of forming the
government but we need a few more sessions to reach
a definitive agreement."
KDP leader Massoud Barzani met with the other
Kurdish chieftain Jalal Talabani in a resort outside
the northern Kurdish town of Arbil.
But the Sunni community, which dominated Iraq under
ousted leader Saddam Hussein and which is blamed for
much of the deadly unrest in the country, is divided
about whether or not to join the political process.
Sunnis largely boycotted the landmark January 30
elections.
The influential Sunni committee has been putting out
feelers over its role in the drafting of a permanent
constitution and has said that it would not oppose
the participation of Sunnis in the next government.
But it has not climbed down from its strong
opposition to US troop presence.
The committee decided to skip a gathering of about
300 Sunni leaders called by the heir to Iraq's
former Hashemite monarchy, Sherif Ali bin Hussein,
to urge members of the community that dominated Iraq
under ousted leader Saddam Hussein to join the
current political process.
"Sunnis have hurt themselves by staying out of the
process," said Sherif Ali. "We are being invited to
join the political process, we think it is wise to
respond to this call."
News wire
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