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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMaliki Rejects Ceding Power as Kirkuk Is Hit by Blast
By Nayla Razzouk and Selcan Hacaoglu Jun 25, 2014 2:35 PM ET
June 25 (Bloomberg) -- Adam Ereli, former U.S. ambassador to Bahrain, discusses the conflict in Iraq, solving the crisis and the outlook for the country's Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Ereli, speaking with Mark Barton on Bloomberg Television's "Countdown," also talks about U.S.-Russia relations. (Source: Bloomberg)
Iraqs Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki rejected calls to relinquish power and allow the formation of a national salvation government to counter Sunni militants seeking to break up the country.
In a televised address today, the Shiite premier said the demands by political opponents and even some erstwhile allies amounted to a coup against the constitution and the political process. He vowed to pursue the fight against militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, an al-Qaeda splinter group that seized Mosul, the countrys biggest northern city, and other towns this month.
The violence today spread to Kirkuk, the northern regions oil hub, where a car bomb killed at least seven people and wounded 20, according to a police statement. It was the first attack there since Kurdish forces took over control of the area two weeks ago as Iraqs army fled in the face of the ISIL advance.
Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani is among the Iraqi politicians who have called on Maliki to stand aside, as a first step to presenting a unified front against ISIL. Opponents have accused him of sidelining the countrys Sunni minority and the Kurds. Maliki has denied that his policies alienated Sunnis, who had dominated Iraqs government before the 2003 U.S. invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.
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Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and factions of the premiers own Shiite supporters have joined the calls. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who visited Iraq this week, has urged the countrys leaders to form a more inclusive government without specifying who should lead or join it.
more...
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-25/maliki-rejects-to-relinquish-power-as-sunni-militants-fight-on.html
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)that in a matter of 8-10 days, his opinion on whether he should relinquish power may just be a moot point.
La Lioness Priyanka
(53,866 posts)his days are numbered. not just as a politician but as an alive human
truebrit71
(20,805 posts)...not the best time to play chicken..
Aerows
(39,961 posts)He is virtually surrounded by enemies at this point.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)and close down our giant embassy.
It's time to cut the cord.
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)will most likely be their declaration of 'victory' not unlike the tearing down of the Saddam statue back in 2003.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)It's my understanding that, since the fall of Saddam, Baghdad is pretty much a Shiite city.
What will likely happen is the division of Iraq along sectarian lines.
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)expect all out civil war.
Baghdad and points south will not be nearly the cakewalk for the Sunnis as the west and north, if Maliki doesn't alter course, it's going to get extremely bloody .
Purveyor
(29,876 posts)6 weeks ago, I hadn't even heard of ISIS/ISIL.
pampango
(24,692 posts)BootinUp
(46,928 posts)bigtree
(85,920 posts). . . he lashed out at the suggestion he should form an emergency government. I remember the interim govt. the U.S. set up with Chalabi as head. I can see why he's rejecting any extra-constitutional measures to form a new govt. He can still be voted out.
This story was misreported from the start (by rw sites) as Maliki rejecting coalition or an inclusive government.
Kerry seems to believe that he's on track to reforms:
John Kerry
Secretary of State
Brussels, Belgium
June 25, 2014
With respect to the prime ministers remarks about a so-called salvation government, that is not something that I discussed with him. That is not something that was on the table in the context of our meetings while we were there. In fact, there was no discussion that I had with any of the leaders there regarding a so-called salvation government. And Ive heard reports about it, but Im not sure exactly what it is that he rejected or spoke to.
What I do know is that in the prime ministers remarks today he did follow through on the commitments that he made in our discussions. He clearly committed to completing the electoral process, he committed to meeting on the 1st of July and having the Council of Representatives come together, and he committed to moving forward with the constitutional processes of government formation. And that is precisely what the United States was encouraging. He also called on all Iraqis to put aside their differences to unite in their efforts against terrorism. That is also what we had discussions about.
So what he said today with respect to the things we talked about was entirely in line with the conversations that I had with him when I was there. And the constitutional process that weve urged all Iraqis to commit to at this time, we believe is critical to the ability to form a government.
Now, Iraqis will decide that. And the United States is not disinterested in what happens in a future leadership, but the United States is not going to engage in the process of suggesting to Iraqis who that ought to be. Its up to Iraqis to make those decisions. And we have stated clearly that we have an interest in a government that can unite Iraqis that, like Grand Ayatollah Sistani said, will not repeat the mistakes of the past and go backwards but can actually bring people together. Its up to Iraqis to decide who has the ability to do that and who represents that future.
more: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2014/06/228444.htm