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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 18, 2011 - Hours after the last U.S. Forces Iraq convoy crossed the border into Kuwait on its way home, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff sat down for the first time with Saudi officials here to discuss Iraq and other developments in the region. Traveling with a multicountry USO holiday tour to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and other nations, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey took time today to meet with leaders of one of the United States' long-time partners in the Middle East. "I've been very clear with all of our partners -- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and others -- [that] if you're concerned about the future of Iraq, then we should all work together to help ensure that we achieve a brighter future for Iraq," Dempsey told reporters who are traveling with him. "[if Iraq is] left unattended or left to its own devices," he said, then countries that could have helped the newly sovereign nation "shouldn't come back and complain about the outcome." Today Dempsey met with officials from the Saudi Ministry of Defense and the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The chairman, who from 2001 to 2003 served in the kingdom to train and advise the Saudi Arabian National Guard, said he and the Saudi officials spent time renewing their acquaintance. But they also discussed Iraq, Iran's potential influence on Iraq, the Arab-Israeli conflict, he added, and the growing Saudi investment in the U.S. foreign military sales program. "On the specific issue of Iraq, I'd say [saudi officials] are probably concerned about the Iranian influence and are eager to know what we intend to do to make sure that influence doesn't permeate Iraq," Dempsey said. "They asked me what I thought it meant [that the U.S. military is out of Iraq] and they offered to tell me what they thought it meant," he said, adding, "I wouldn't describe our discussions at this point as suggesting to each other what we might do." The Arab-Israeli conflict was also on the agenda, the chairman said, a routine topic in meetings with Saudi leaders. "Generally speaking we begin our meetings with a reflection on the fact that from their perspective the key to a lasting settlement in the region is the Arab-Israeli conflict," Dempsey said. The Saudis made no judgments about how the United States is managing the conflict, "but I would describe on the part of both the leaders in the Saudi Arabia National Guard and the Ministry of Defense ... a heightened sense of concern on the basis of what they consider to be two facts," Dempsey said. First, he added, "they are very concerned that our withdrawal from Iraq opens the door for greater Iranian influence, [and] they consider that Iranian influence in Bahrain has a very real chance of destabilizing the region." A positive signal from the Saudis is a rapidly growing investment in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, he said, with the Saudi Arabia National Guard investment growing four-fold and the Ministry of Defense investment nearly doubling. And the Saudis have established a new facilities-protection program through the program for critical industries such as oil refineries and water and power plants, Dempsey added. With the Saudis, he said, "We used to talk about stuff -- material procurements, bright shiny objects. It wasn't that kind of conversation at all today. It was actually quite substantive; about training and of course geopolitical issues." Dempsey added, "I think they feel like they're in a very good place and ... a strong place in terms of capabilities. "I think they're genuinely interested now in how they can get better at utilizing [equipment they've purchased from the United States], the chairman said, "and I find that to be quite encouraging." �

Thank you

You Said it all in the last part. God bless the United States of America , our US troops & our US citizens in JESUS name, amen... because... in GOD we truth!

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Great post, ron thank you.

Med, Great post thank you. I appreciate it.

Ron, I appreciate the post Thank you

Great Post, thank you.

we will see what happens.

Thank you for this post, All Soldiers need everyone Appreciation, and we all need to give are thanks to God for what they give all of the America. God Bless, everyone, and America

I didn't see any DONG, that had exchanged.

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control 31 CFR Part 575 Iraqi Sanctions Regulations AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Final rule. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:11 Sep 10, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\13SER1.SGM 13SER1 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES Federal Register /Vol. 75, No. 176 /Monday, September 13, 2010 /Rules and Regulations 55463 SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘‘OFAC’’) is implementing Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, which terminated the national emergency declared with respect to Iraq in Executive Order 12722 of August 2, 1990, and revoked that and subsequent Executive orders, by removing the Iraqi Sanctions Regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations. DATES: Effective Date: September 13, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Director for Compliance, Outreach & Implementation, tel.: 202/ 622–2490, Assistant Director for Licensing, tel.: 202/622–2480, Assistant Director for Policy, tel.: 202/622–4855, or Chief Counsel (Foreign Assets Control), tel.: 202/622–2410 (not toll free numbers). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Electronic and Facsimile Availability This document and additional information concerning OFAC are available from OFAC’s Web site (http: //www.treas.gov/ofac). Certain general information pertaining to OFAC’s sanctions programs also is available via facsimile through a 24-hour fax-ondemand service, tel.: 202/622–0077. Background As a result of the removal of the regime of Saddam Hussein and other developments in Iraq, the President issued Executive Order 13350 on July 29, 2004 (69 FR 46055, July 30, 2004). Executive Order 13350 terminated the national emergency declared with respect to Iraq in Executive Order 12722 of August 2, 1990. In addition, Executive Order 13350 revoked Executive Order 12722, Executive Order 12724 of August 9, 1990, Executive Order 12743 of January 18, 1991, Executive Order 12751 of February 14, 1991, and Executive Order 12817 of October 21, 1992. These Executive orders were all in furtherance of the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12722. In Executive Order 12722, the President ordered the blocking of all property and interests in property that were in the United States or that came within the possession or control of United States persons, including overseas branches, of the Government of Iraq, its agencies, instrumentalities, and controlled entities, and the Central Bank of Iraq (55 FR 31803, August 3, 1990). Executive Order 12722 prohibited the importation of any goods or services of Iraqi origin into the United States and the exportation of any goods, technology, or services from the United States to Iraq. Executive Order 12722 also prohibited transactions relating to transportation and travel to or from Iraq by United States citizens or permanent resident aliens. The subsequent Executive orders took various additional steps with respect to the situation in Iraq. Section 207(a) of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (‘‘IEEPA’’) (50 U.S.C. 1706(a)) contains a provision that allows the President to continue to prohibit transactions involving property in which a foreign country or national thereof has an interest after a national emergency has been terminated if the President determines that the continuation of such a prohibition with respect to that property is necessary on account of claims involving such country or its nationals. Pursuant to section 207(a) of IEEPA, the President determined in Section 1 of Executive Order 13350 that continuation of prohibitions with regard to transactions involving property blocked pursuant to Executive Orders 12722 or 12724 that continued to be blocked as of July 30, 2004, was necessary on account of claims involving Iraq. The new Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations, 31 CFR part 576, include a general license unblocking all remaining property blocked pursuant to Section 1 of Executive Order 13350. See 31 CFR 576.510. Please note that certain transactions relating to Iraq remain subject to the Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Regulations, 31 CFR part 576, which implement Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13438 of July 17, 2007. Accordingly, OFAC is removing the Iraqi Sanctions Regulations (the ‘‘Regulations’’) in 31 CFR part 575. The removal of part 575 from 31 CFR chapter V does not affect ongoing enforcement proceedings or prevent the initiation of enforcement proceedings where the relevant statute of limitations has not run. Executive Order 12866, Administrative Procedure Act, and Regulatory Flexibility Act Because the Regulations involve a foreign affairs function, the provisions of Executive Order 12866 and the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) requiring notice of proposed rulemaking, opportunity for public participation, and delay in effective date are inapplicable. Because no notice of proposed rulemaking is required for this rule, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612) does not apply. Paperwork Reduction Act The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this rule does not impose information collection requirements that would require the approval of the Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. List of Subjects in 31 CFR Part 575 Administrative practice and procedure, Banks, Banking, Blocking of assets, Exports, Foreign trade, Imports, Iraq, Oil imports, Penalties, Petroleum, Petroleum products, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Specially designated nationals, Terrorism, Travel restrictions. PART 575—[REMOVED] ■ Pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq. and Executive Order 13350, the Office of Foreign Assets Control amends 31 CFR chapter V by removing part 575 for the reasons set forth in the preamble. Dated: September 1, 2010. Adam J. Szubin, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department of the Treasury. Approved: September 2, 2010. Stuart A. Levey, Under Secretary, Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Department of the Treasury. [FR Doc. 2010–22548 Filed 9–10–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4810–AL–P DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY Office of Foreign Assets Control 31 CFR Part 576 Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘‘OFAC’’) is adding the Iraq Stabilization and Insurgency Sanctions Regulations as a new part to the Code of Federal Regulations, to implement Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, Executive Order 13315 of August 28, 2003, Executive Order 13350 of July 29, 2004, Executive Order 13364 of November 29, 2004, and Executive Order 13438 of July 17, 2007. VerDate Mar

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Baghdad (news): A source high-level government and close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki أن التقرير النهائي لاحتياجات القوات العراقية سيسلم الخميس، فيما اعلن ان That the final report to the needs of the Iraqi forces will hand over Thursday, as announced that the المفاوضات بين العراق والولايات المتحدة حول التدريب ستبدأ الاسبوع المقبل وقد توقع Negotiations between Iraq and the United States about the training will begin next week, was expected الاتفاقية بينهما بعد عطلة عيد الفطر المبارك Agreement between them after the holiday Eid al-Fitr . . وقال المصدر في تصريح خص به (الوكالة الاخبارية للانباء) أمس “أن اللجان المكلفة باعداد التقرير النهائي حول احتياج للقوات العراقية بكافة صنوفها ستقدم تقريرها الخميس”، مشيرا الى أن كل صنف من صنوف القوات العراقية سيقدم تقريره واحتياجاته سواء للاسلحة او لمدربين او لاجهزة واضاف المصدر “أن اتفاقاَ جرى بين الجانب العراقي والامريكي على بدء المفاوضات بين الجانبين الاسبوع المقبل، حيث شكلت الحكومة العراقية لجنتها العسكرية التي ستبدأ بالمفاوضات ومن ثم تبدأ المفاوضات على مستوى اكبر برئاسة رئيس الوزراء نوري المالكي”. The source said in a statement singled out by the Agency (news) yesterday, "that the committees in charge of preparing the final report on the need for Iraqi forces in all its different forms will report Thursday," he said, adding that each class of ill-Iraqi forces will submit his report and needs, whether for weapons or for trained or equipment, the source added "The agreement took place between the Iraqi side and the U.S. to start negotiations between the two sides next week, where it formed the Iraqi government to its military, which will start the negotiations and then begin negotiations on a larger scale under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki." وذكر “أن المفاوضات ستكون على مرحلتين الاولى من خلال لجان عسكرية على مستوى كبار الضباط من مختلف الصنوف، والمرحلة الثانية على مستوى اكبر، من خلال فريق مفاوض برئاسة رئيس الوزراء نوري المالكي ووزراء وقانونيين ومستشارين”. He said, "that the negotiations will be on the first two phases of the military commissions at the level of senior officers from various Alsnov, and the second phase at the top, through the negotiating team headed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the ministers, lawyers and advisers." واوضح المصدر “أن المفاوضات ستركز على عقود التسليح ويمكن من خلالها تحديد عدد المدربين، فضلا عن عديد القوات التي ستقوم بحماية السفارة الامريكية ببغداد والقنصليات في بقية المحافظات، وحمايات المسؤولين في السفارة والقنصليات، وبقية السفارات التي قد تكون حماياتها جزءا من التواجد الامريكي في البلاد”، وتابع المصدر”المفاوضات ستركز ايضاَ على عديد القوات وفترة تواجدها، وفترات التدريب والحصانة للمدربين من عدمها وأماكن تواجد تلك القوات او المدربين، فضلا عن نوع الدعم اللوجستي الذي سيقدم او اي مشاركة بعملية مساندة للقوات العراقية”. The source explained that "the negotiations will focus on armament contracts, and from which to determine the number of trainers, as well as the many forces that will protect the U.S. embassy in Baghdad and consulates in other provinces, and protections officials at the embassy and consulates, and the rest of the embassies that may be Hamaiadtha part of the U.S. presence in the country." , the source continued, "the negotiations will also focus on troop levels and the period of their presence, and periods of training of trainers and immunity or not, and the whereabouts of those troops or trainers, as well as the type of logistical support, which will post process, or any support for Iraqi forces." وافاد المصدر “بأن العراق قد يحتاج الى 1000 او 2000 مدرب لتدريب القوات العراقية بكل صنوفها اما اذا اضيف جنود لغرض حماية السفارة الامريكية في المنطقة الخضراء والقوات الامريكية الاخرى التي ستبقى في البلاد فان العدد بكل تأكيد سيتجاوز الـ 10 آلاف جندي”. The source said that "Iraq may need to 1000 or 2000 coach to train Iraqi forces all its different but if soldiers were added for the purpose of protecting the U.S. embassy in the Green Zone and other U.S. troops that will remain in the country, the number certainly will exceed the 10 thousand soldiers." وتوقع المصدر “أن يتم الانتهاء من المفاوضات حول اتفاقية التعاون العسكري بين بغداد وواشنطن مطلع ايلول المقبل، وقد توقع الاتفاقية بعد عطلة عيد الفطر المبارك اي في الايام العشرة الاولى او منتصف ايلول المقبل”. The source expected "to be completed by negotiations on the military cooperation agreement between Baghdad and Washington beginning next September, has signed the Convention after the Eid al-Fitr holiday that is in the first ten days or the middle of next September." http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http://www.babnews.com/inp/view.asp%3FID%3D43318&usg=ALkJrhgWRFRvaVfck2MfLCpzfZp6B0EUmA

BAGHDAD (Agencies) confirmed the Finance Committee of Parliament that they had completed القراءة الأولى والثانية لمسودة مشروع قانون تخفيض رواتب الرئاسات الثلاث، مبينة First and second reading to a draft of a bill reducing the salaries of the three presidencies, indicating أنها بانتظار التصويت عليه بعد أن سلمت تقريرها النهائي إلى رئاسة مجلس النواب قبل It is awaiting a vote after it delivered its final report to the Presidency of the Council of Representatives before ثلاثة أشهر. Three months. وقال رئيس اللجنة حيدر العبادي في تصريحات صحفية إن "اللجنة المالية في البرلمان أكملت القراءة He said Haider Abadi, Chairman of the Committee in a press statement that "the Finance Committee of the Parliament completed the reading الأولى والثانية لقانون تخفيض رواتب الرئاسات الثلاث First and second law reduced the salaries of the three presidencies ". ". وأضاف العبادي أن He added that Abadi " اللجنة المالية سلمت تقريرها النهائي إلى رئاسة مجلس النواب قبل ثلاثة أشهر "The Finance Committee delivered its final report to the Presidency of the Council of Representatives three months ago " " ، , مشيرا إلى أن "اللجنة الآن بانتظار التصويت على القانون He pointed out that "the Commission is now awaiting the vote on the law ". ". يشار إلى أن مجلس It is noteworthy that the Board of النواب قد صوت، في الـ12 من آذار الماضي، خلال جلسته الـ41 على قانون تخفيض رواتب House of Representatives had voted, in the 12 of last March, during the 41 its a law to reduce the salaries of الرئاسات الثلاث "بشكل مبدئي The three presidencies, "initially ". ". وصادق مجلس الوزراء العراقي، مطلع شهر آذار And endorsed by the Iraqi cabinet, in early March الماضي، على مشروع قانون تخفيض رواتب الرئاسات الثلاث والدرجات الخاصة، وحوله إلى The past, a bill reducing the salaries of the three presidencies and special grades, and around the مجلس النواب لإقراره House of Representatives for approval. . . وتراوحت نسب التخفيض وفقا لمسودة القانون بين 80% و40 The reduction rates ranged according to a draft law between 80% and 40 % % ، , حيث تم تخفيض رواتب رؤساء الجمهورية والوزراء والنواب من 50 مليون دينار إلى 12 Has been reduced salaries of presidents, ministers and MPs from 50 to 12 million dinars مليون دينار، وتخفيض مخصصات الرؤساء الثلاثة ونوابهم بنسبة 80 Million, and reduce the allocations of the three presidents and their deputies by 80 %. %. http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?hl=en&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=ar&tl=en&u=http://www.babnews.com/inp/view.asp%3FID%3D43320&usg=ALkJrhjxAFvTvnlEFRNUlChrVEUso7u3Og

Baghdad, AUgust 11 (AKnews) – Ministry of Transport plans for a $70bn rail network that links the Iraqi provinces with high-speed trains travelling at 240 km per hour have been submitted to the cabinet for approval, says a senior ministry official. Deputy Transport Minister Bangin Rekani told AKnews today that the project has been submitted to the Council of Ministers as part of a bid to connect Iraq to its neighboring countries, develop internal transportation and boost the Iraqi economy. “The ministry has insufficient funds to implement the project, and therefore is awaiting the approval of the council of ministers to dedicate extra funds.” Reported by Jaafar al-Wannan RY/KA/AKnews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/256486/

Erbil, Aug. 11 (AKnews) – Parliament voted by a majority today to form a committee to oversee the application of article 140 of the Iraqi constitution to resolve territorial disputes in a number of multi-ethnic areas. The article aims at ending the long dispute between Baghdad and the northern semi-autonomous enclave of Kurdistan over the tenure of oil-rich Kirkuk, and parts of Nineveh, Salahaddin and Diyala provinces. KBC deputy Shuwan Mohammed told AKnews the new committee will initially include 38 lawmakers; seven of them Kurds and the rest from the other Iraqi political blocs, but this number may increased at a later date. According to Mohammed, the new council will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the article – originally scheduled to be implemented in 2007 - and will operate under the auspices of the Council of Ministers. The article sets three stages for the settling of the tenure debate. Firstly, the original inhabitants of the disputed areas - forced to leave under the former regime’s demography-altering ‘Arabization’ policies – must be returned and compensated. The second stage is the conducting of a population census, followed by the final stage, a referendum in which the residents can decide whether they would like to join Kurdistan or remain with Baghdad. Four years after the constitutional deadline for the article, the government has not yet completed the first phase. By Fryad Mohammed http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/256459/

WesternZagros Resources has announced that it has finalized an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq (“KRG”) and Talisman (Block K44) B.V. (“Talisman”) to amend the original Production Sharing Contract (“Original PSC”) that governed the Company’s exploration activities in the Kalar-Bawanoor Block in Kurdistan. The agreement divides the contract area of the Original PSC into two contract areas named Garmian and Kurdamir (refer to Figure 1) and each will be operated under a distinct PSC. WesternZagros will continue to operate the southern contract area named the Garmian Block that covers approximately 1,780 square kilometres and is now governed under the new Garmian PSC. The Garmian Block contains the Sarqala-1 oil discovery, the Mil Qasim-1 prospect, and the other numerous prospects that contributed to a large increase in prospective resources reported by the Company on July 20, 2011. The northern contract area is named the Kurdamir Block. It covers some 340 square kilometres and contains the Kurdamir-1 oil, gas and condensate discovery and is now governed under an amended version of the Original PSC (the “Kurdamir PSC”). The northern area is now operated by Talisman. WesternZagros’s production sharing terms, under both the Garmian and Kurdamir PSCs, remain unchanged from the Original PSC. To view the Figure 1 map, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/802wzr_fig1.pdf The agreement amends the work obligations and timeline for the first exploration period of the Original PSC. On the Garmian Block, WesternZagros’s remaining work commitment will be fulfilled by drilling the Mil Qasim-1 exploration well by December 31, 2011. The drilling rig for the Mil Qasim-1 well is on location with the spud date anticipated for mid August. Mil Qasim-1 will be drilled to test the oil potential of the Upper Fars Formation at a location three kilometres away from where that same formation displayed shows of high pressure light oil when penetrated by the Company’s Sarqala-1 well. WesternZagros’s 40% working interest and the KRG’s 20% carried interest remain unchanged in the Garmian Block. The remaining 40% working interest will be assigned to a Third Party Participant (“TPP”) by the KRG in due course. On the Kurdamir Block, the remaining work commitment will be fulfilled by the drilling of the Kurdamir-2 well by June 30, 2012. Talisman is in the process of securing a drilling rig for the Kurdamir-2 well, with an anticipated spud date within the fourth quarter of 2011. The well will be drilled to evaluate the Oligocene, Eocene and Cretaceous reservoirs at a location two kilometres away from where the Company observed numerous oil shows and tested oil, gas and condensate in Kurdamir-1 well. The working interests in the Kurdamir Block remain unchanged. As operator of the Kurdamir Block, Talisman will draw on the experience from both the Kurdamir-1 well and the Topkhana-1 well, which Talisman is currently drilling on their adjacent K-39 Block. “We are pleased that we have reached a win-win solution that meets the objectives of the government and each of the contractor parties,” said Simon Hatfield, WesternZagros’s Chief Executive Officer (pictured). “These amended PSCs give us the additional time needed to drill our next wells and to enable us to incorporate the information gained from our recent discoveries in order to maximize our potential for future exploration success. We are excited by the opportunities we see in both Garmian and Kurdamir Blocks.” On the Garmian Block WesternZagros is preparing to carry out an extended well test in the Jeribe Formation at the Sarqala-1 light oil discovery concurrently with the drilling of the Mil Qasim-1 well. WesternZagros has identified numerous other prospects and plays on the Garmian Block, including Baran, Qulijan, Bawanoor, the Upper Fars Fault Trap Play and the Zardi Complex, all of which offer considerable further exploration potential. For the Kurdamir-2 well the necessary long lead items, including casing and well head equipment, have been procured and a 2000 horse power rig is being contracted for the drilling operations. http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/08/03/westernzagros-amends-production-sharing-contract-in-kurdistan/

Reuters reports that Iraq’s oil exports from its southern ports jumped last month to a six-month high, reflecting efforts by foreign oil companies to boost production. Exports from the Basra oil terminal and Khor al-Amaya averaged 1.77 million bpd in July, shipping data tracked by Reuters showed. That is the highest since 1.8 million bpd was exported from the south in January. BP and CNPC have been developing the Rumaila field, where supply is running at about 1.3 million bpd, BP said last week, up from around 1.2 million bpd in May. More Basra crude than normal is heading to Europe this and next month, according to trading sources, partly in response to a rise in the price of competing Russian Urals. Iraq’s exports overall actually fell in July from June. According to shipping industry sources, exports of Kirkuk crude shipped from the country’s north averaged 445,0000 bpd, less than in June. A senior Iraqi official on Monday cited growing local demand, because of hot weather, for the decline in exports overall. Falah Alamri, head of Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation, said exports dipped to 2.164 million bpd from 2.275 million bpd in June as more crude was used domestically. http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/08/03/iraqs-southern-exports-hit-6-month-high/

Baghdad, August 3 (AKnews) - A member of the State of Law Coalition (SLC) led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Wednesday that his bloc is going to sue the Iraqi president Jalal Talabani for not signing death sentences issued against former Iraqi Baath Party officials accused of crimes against humanity. President Talabani has repeatedly refused to sign death warrants on moral grounds, including the one issued against former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Hussein al-Asadi told AKnews on Wednesday that in the view of the SLC, "…the president must assume his constitutional responsibilities towards the Iraqi people and stand on the side of the victims because they all see him as the guardian of the constitution and the protector of Iraqi unity." Talabani authorized his deputy Tariq al-Hashimi to sign the warrants on his behalf last month, however, Hashimi also refused to sign the warrants issued against the former Iraqi defense minister, Sultan Hashim and an aide to the former Iraqi army chief of staff, Hussein Rashid, convicted in 2007 of committing genocide against the Kurds. Hashimi explained his strong opposition to the execution of the two former officials on the grounds that they were not willingly involved in military operations against the Iraqi people and that they were merely following orders. "We are still gathering signatures in support of our lawsuit against Talabani," al-Asadi said. "So far, we have gathered more than 50 signatures in parliament from different blocs." Reported by Yazn al-Shammari RY/KA/AKnews http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/255113/