[k98nights]

Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, isn't happy about yesterday's court decision allowing hundreds of banned candidates to run in the March 7 parliamentary election.

A spokesman for Maliki, Ali al-Dabbagh, said the appellate court's decision is illegal and unconstitutional, and that the law "must be applied as it is." Maliki said the decision is not binding -- a position also adopted by Ali Faysal al-Lami, the chairman of the Justice and Accountability Commission -- and called yesterday for an emergency session of parliament to review the candidates.

A spokesman for Maliki's State of Law coalition said the special session would focus specifically on "overturning the decision."

Ammar al-Hakim, the head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq -- one of the biggest potential beneficiaries of the ban -- called the court's ruling (عربي) a "discriminatory decision." A statement from his Watani alliance (which also includes the Sadrist movement) blames the court's decision on interference from American ambassador Christopher Hill and U.S. vice president Joe Biden. Rough translation from Al-Rafidayn:

[Hakim] declares that he rejected intervention in Iraqi institutions, and any foreign activity that works against Iraqi sovereignty. "We do welcome any opinions or advice that do not go beyond the principle of sovereignty, and respect our constitution and our laws," he said.

Reidar Visser notes that many Shi'ite newspapers in Iraq also link the court's decision to Biden.

A spokesman for the Iraqiyya coalition, the biggest loser under the de-Ba'athification decision, said the court's ruling was a "positive step for democratic accountability and justice." Iyad Allawi, the head of the coalition, also had some positive things to say (عربي) about the ruling.

So the ruling stands -- for now -- and it seems two possible confrontations loom: whether Lami decides to accept the ruling, and whether parliament accepts it during the special session (which will have to wait until after Arbaeen, I assume).

http://www.themajlis...-baath-decision

[randstout]

Thanks k98nights

[Joyce Bygall]

Thanks for the important info. Sure hope it works out to everyone's satisfaction, and no further upheaval to throw another roadblock in the path of the RV/RI.

[valu]

gee it sure would have been nice if ole maliki had shown as much interest in the el or the budget but all we got was the sound of crickets. now he is in a serious race, let's ban the competition. hey maliki, play fair!