Iraqi Parliament has been reconvened to 12 August

[ronscarpa]

Just got this in an email from Am.Contractor and am just passing it on....no link...!

 

Today at 11:41 AM

Hello ,

An Iraqi army general has been killed outside of Baghdad by the
Islamic State (IS) and continue to threaten Baghdad.

As predicted the Iraqi Parliament has been reconvened to 12 August
and I will say that keep an open mind because it may be changed
again.

Citibank that had opened an office in Baghdad have now closed the
Baghdad office and moved back to Amman, Jordan.

Standard Charter bank has closed their Iraq office and moved to
Dubai.

 

[millionaire in training]

Thanks Ron.............I dont know what to say.......

 

Sounds like what we've been hearing all day........

 

I will say that keep an open mind because it may be changed

again.
 

Lets hope so..........

[calkid11]

Thank you

[billio0]

Sounds like the game is finally on!

 

Thanks ronscarpa for the update.

 

Billio0

[dontlop]

http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2386473&language=en

BAGHDAD, July 7 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi parliament decided Monday to postpone its session scheduled for tomorrow until August 12 because of political parties' failure to name house speaker, President and Prime Minister.

Sources at the parliament, requesting anonymity, told KUNA the house eldest MP Mahdi Al-Hafedh, who was presiding over today's meeting, informed the lawmakers about the postponement decision.

The parliament failed in its first session to elect its speaker and a president of the republic.

Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, whose State of Law coalition won the April 30 general elections, has been urged by international parties to form an inclusive government in order to address security uncertainties in Iraq. (end) ahh.bs

But after an uproar over the long delay, speaker Mahdi al-Hafidh announced Monday night that there was a preliminary agreement among lawmakers to meet Sunday, July 13. But even that appeared uncertain, since al-Hafidh added that an official announcement of the date would not come until Tuesday.

Iraqi parliament squabbles over when to next meet

By RYAN LUCAS and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press | July 7, 2014

http://m.chron.com/news/world/article/Iraqi-parliament-delays-next-session-until-August-5603824.php

BAGHDAD (AP) — With political leaders deadlocked, Iraq's parliament squabbled Monday over when to hold its next session, potentially delaying the formation of a new government for weeks despite the threat from extremists who have seized control of a large chunk of the country and declared the establishment of an Islamic state.

The acting speaker of parliament initially announced that the legislature would not meet again until mid-August because there was no agreement among factions over the top leadership posts — particularly the prime minister, with incumbent Nouri al-Maliki facing a campaign to replace him.

But after an uproar over the long delay, speaker Mahdi al-Hafidh announced Monday night that there was a preliminary agreement among lawmakers to meet Sunday, July 13. But even that appeared uncertain, since al-Hafidh added that an official announcement of the date would not come until Tuesday.

With politicians struggling to even agree on when to meet, it was hard to see how they could quickly forge a compromise on the much thornier issue of a new government. The impasse, coupled with the military's sluggish counteroffensive, underlined just how difficult a task Iraqis face as they try to keep their country from fracturing along sectarian and ethnic lines.

The military suffered a new setback in its battle with the extremist advance Monday when the top commander of the armed forces battling militants in the west was killed by a mortar strike.

The United States, which withdrew the last American troops from Iraq in 2011, and other world powers have pressed for the quick formation of a new government, as has Iraq's top Shiite cleric, the revered Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. They are calling for an inclusive government that will draw support among Iraq's Sunni minority away from the insurgency, led by a radical al-Qaida breakaway group called the Islamic State.

In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the U.S. was disappointed that Iraq's leaders haven't moved more quickly to unify the country. He said difficult steps must be taken to solve the problem, but that "reaching those agreements and making those difficult decisions are necessary for Iraq to survive."

Lawmakers met last week for the new parliament's first session since April elections, but the meeting ended without agreeing on a new prime minister, president and speaker of parliament. The legislature had been expected to meet again Tuesday, but that session was called off since no progress had been made over the past week untangling the political situation.

The main point of contention right now is the post of prime minister, which holds most of the power in Iraq. Al-Maliki's opponents — and many former allies — want him removed, accusing him of monopolizing power during his eight years in office and contributing to the current crisis by failing to promote reconciliation with Sunnis.

Al-Maliki, whose State of Law bloc won the largest share of seats in April's election, has vowed he will not abandon his bid for a third consecutive term. But he didn't win a majority in parliament and so needs allies to form a government.

An alliance grouping Shiite parties has yet to decide on its candidate for the job. The Sunnis and Kurds have refused, in turn, to present their respective nominees for speaker and president. Under an informal system that took root after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein, the prime minister's job goes to a Shiite, the president's post to a Kurd and the speaker of parliament's chair to a Sunni.

Some of the stiffest criticism of al-Hafidh's initial decision for an Aug. 12 parliament session came from the Shiite alliance, an umbrella group that includes al-Maliki's State of Law bloc. It said the lengthy delay doesn't serve the country's interests, and it urged him to set a date no more than a week away — a demand that July 13 meets.

But Sunni lawmaker Dhafir al-Ani said it was the Shiite alliance that demanded the postponement due to difficulties within its ranks in settling on a candidate for prime minister.

There's no guarantee that even with a new government Iraq can roll back the militants. The insurgent blitz has overrun most Sunni-majority areas of the country — including the second largest city Mosul — in a matter of weeks. But it has slowed since encountering stronger resistance in Shiite-dominated areas.

Edited July 8, 2014 by dontlop

[docneedles]

i don't know what article to believe anymore. I am not so sure i believe this one.

I can not see what benefit it would serve to postpone Parliament that long.  Ramaden will be over the end of this month. 

[10 YEARS LATER]

These people are really somethin', aren't they.

[docneedles]

These people are really somethin', aren't they.

yep

[skeetdog]

Thanks Ron...Something aint adding up...the disconcert for responsible leadership at a time when someone needs to raise to the occasion and administer guidance with authority in protocol to establish stability in the fundamental positions that rule the entire nation...I guess as long as we can't figure out ''What they are thinking"...we're ahead of the game...Me, it would come close to scaring me, if I thought the way they do....  

[ckriebs]

I thought their constitution dictated a time frame. I am confused. Can someone clarify this for me.

[sandfly]

JUST WAITING

[idplzr]

I thought their constitution dictated a time frame. I am confused. Can someone clarify this for me.

They would stop drinking water to postpone pissing if their constitution mandated daily urination.

[umbertino]

They would stop drinking water to postpone pissing if their constitution mandated daily urination.

Good one. Probably true.

[Rayzur]

National Alliance 3 National Alliance calls on the Speaker to set a date for the hearing alternative does not exceed the Week

 

July 7, 2014

 

Called the National Alliance, on Monday, the President of the House of Representatives to set a date for the next session alternative does not exceed a week, rather than postponed to the 12th of next month. The alliance said in a press statement, said that "setting a date for the next meeting of the House of Representatives hearing on 12.8.2014 longer delay; given the circumstances faced by the country, and requires intensified efforts, and save time." He added, "In line with the directives of the religious authority governance emphasize the Speaker of the House need to identify alternative appointment does not exceed a week," stressing "the components of alliances that resolved all its options on the three presidencies (Presidency of the Council of Representatives, the presidency, the prime minister." It is said that Hafiz session for new Council of Representatives to August 12 next, while explaining the postponement request blocs that there is no political consensus on the nomination of candidates for the three presidencies. An alliance of national forces has revealed, on Monday, he had not been an agreement to provide its candidate for the presidency of the parliament, and while pointing out that he will not be providing the name of the candidate formally only in the framework of a final agreement to nominate candidates for the three presidencies, speaking on condition to provide the National Alliance candidate for the presidency Minister.

- اقرأ المزيد
 

[ReinMan]

How did I know they wouldn't get diddly squat done today?

 

NO RV this week. 

 

However if it's sprung on us this week I'll laugh so hard and STILL drop to my knees with thanks and praise and forgiveness.

 

Take note of which gurus said we're really close in the past 4 days.

[Joe S.]

yep

Calling them "people" is not quite right.  I think a better description is something like "idiots" or maybe "obstructionists".  What in the world are they thinking, assuming they can think at all?

[ReinMan]

THIS JUST IN!!!

1 hour ago news!!

 

 

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28216765

 

 

Iraq's new parliament says it will hold its next session on 13 July, nearly a month earlier than previously agreed.

Iraqi MPs had postponed the sitting on Monday until 12 August, but brought the date forward after criticism.

The US said the "dire situation" facing Iraq made forming an inclusive government all the more urgent.

The country's politicians have been urged to unite to defeat a Sunni insurgency led by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Isis).

The new parliament is yet to agree on the three key posts of prime minister, president and parliamentary speaker.

Its first meeting last week had been due to elect a speaker, but ended without agreement after Kurdish and Sunni Arab MPs walked out.

As the leader of the bloc that won the most votes in elections in April, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has demanded the right to attempt to form a governing coalition.

But he has faced calls from his Sunni, Kurdish and Shia opponents to step down because of his handling of the current security crisis.

Iraq's constitutional timetable

• According to Iraq's constitution, the Council of Representatives must elect a new speaker during its opening session
• It must choose a president within 30 days of electing a speaker
• Within 15 days of the president's election, the largest bloc must nominate a new prime minister
• Under a de facto power sharing agreement, the speaker is a Sunni Arab, the prime minister a Shia Arab, and the president a Kurd
• After the 2010 elections, it took nine months to form a new government

Mahdi al-Hafez, the acting speaker of parliament, said that MPs had moved its next session forward "for the sake of the public interest" and "preserving the continuity of building democracy."

"Any delay in this could jeopardise the security of Iraq and its democratic course and increase the suffering of the Iraqi people," he added.

The central government in Baghdad has lost control of vast swathes of further territory over the past month, and last month Isis declared the establishment of a "caliphate" covering the land it holds in Iraq and Syria.

General killed

Despite receiving equipment and intelligence from the US, Russia and Iran, Iraq's efforts to defeat Isis were a dealt a blow on Monday after a senior general was killed.

Maj Gen Sudani was killed in clashes west of Baghdad, where government troops have been fighting Sunni militants who seized the towns of Falluja and Ramadi in January.

The United Nations has said at least 2,417 Iraqis, including 1,531 civilians, were killed in "acts of violence and terrorism" in June.

The figure does not include fatalities in the western province of Anbar, where the Iraqi authorities say 244 civilians died.

[docneedles]

Rein Man,

Many thanks for your great post. plus 1.

[ReinMan]

Thanks!

I'll only post news that can be verified by everyone else with a link.