Iraqi parliament objects to Baghdad wall

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070512/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_parliament;_ylt=AjJWPXl3pWa9no_JZjjArvnMWM0F

Iraqi parliament objects to Baghdad wall

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 31 minutes ago

BAGHDAD -
Iraq's parliament objected Saturday to the construction of walls around Baghdad neighborhoods and called on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to testify about other security issues.

Construction of the walls — particularly in the Baghdad neighborhood of Azamiyah — has been criticized by residents and Sunni clerics who say it is a form of sectarian discrimination. Even followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr complained, fearing their strongholds in the capital will soon be split by the barriers.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have defended the construction of the barriers, which began last month, as a temporary measure to protect the neighborhood during the 12-week-old security crackdown in Baghdad. When the wall is finished, Azamiyah will be gated and checkpoints manned by Iraqi soldiers will be the only entries, the U.S. military said, stressing that the decision was made in coordination with the Iraqis.

Parliament took up the issue Saturday in a raucous session that included debate on the continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, security raids and human rights abuses. Lawmakers interrupted each other and speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhdani struggled to maintain order.

"They (security walls) don't protect residents because these areas are shelled by mortars and Katyusha rockets. ... Will they build roofs too?" said Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman. "We must build bridges between the different groups, not build walls to separate them."

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