|
Iraqi PM welcomes Sadr pull out
17.4.2007
|
|
|
|
April 17, 2007
BAGHDAD, -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
welcomed radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's decision
to pull out of government on Monday, saying it freed
up seats at the cabinet table for "efficient
ministers".
Earlier, pro-Sadr law-makers had announced that six
Shiite ministers would leave the ruling coalition in
protest at Mr Maliki's failure to set a timeline for
the withdrawal of US forces from the war-torn
country.
But, in a statement from his office, Mr Maliki
portrayed the defection as a welcome opportunity to
hand the six portfolios to ministers chosen for
their abilities rather than their religious
affiliation.
"Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki welcomed the
announcement of his eminence Muqtada al-Sadr," the
statement said.
Mr Maliki said that Sadr's decision gave him "the
task of selecting efficient ministers for the posts
formerly occupied by ministers from the Sadr bloc",
without reference to sectarian power-sharing policy.
"The Prime Minister appreciates the support of the
Sadr bloc to the political process but stresses
that a sectarian sharing policy was not the right
option to help Iraq in the face of challenges and
difficulties. |
Iraqi Prime minister Jawad Nuri al-Maliki
Photo:AP
Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr |
|
"He also recalled that the issue of the withdrawal
of multinational forces depends on the readiness
of our armed forces to take charge of security in
all provinces," the statement added.
Mr Maliki is now expected to proceed with a
long-promised reshuffle of his cabinet, chosen amid
horsetrading between Sunni Arab, Sunni Shiite and
ethnic Kurd factions in Iraq's fractious national
unity coalition.
AFP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 