NTERVIEW-Iraq's Allawi sees progress on govt by end-Oct

[ronscarpa]

INTERVIEW-Iraq's Allawi sees progress on govt by end-Oct

Reuters - Alert Net / 06 Sep 2010 @ 10:01:40 GMT

Willing to give PM position to other members in Iraqiya * Unsure when Iraqis will be able to handle own security

BAGHDAD, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi hopes coalition talks will have progressed by end-October and said forming a government was key to security in Iraq after the United States formally ended combat operations.

Allawi told Reuters talks between his Sunni-backed Iraqiya group and incumbent Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led State of Law alliance were still at an early stage six months after a general election, which produced no outright winner.

The failure to form a government has stoked fears of a return to widespread violence, just as Iraq emerges from the sectarian war unleashed after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and deals with oil firms promise to bring future prosperity.

"I hope in October some time, late October (things will be sorted out)," Allawi said in an interview, speaking in English.

"We are still in a preliminary stage. We know that there is a delay, but it is important to be safe and sure than sorry ... the United States is leaving, they have started already to draw down, and we believe that there is a lot to be done in this country to make it safe and stable."

Iraq has been in a political vacuum since the March 7 election which Allawi's Iraqiya won by two seats over State of Law, although neither party won the majority needed to govern.

Allawi and Maliki's blocs have held tentative negotiations, but at the same time have also both been reaching out to other potential partners. So far, the Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish political factions remain miles apart on who should hold the main positions of power, particularly that of prime minister.

The impasse has left a void for insurgents to exploit with persistent attacks -- particularly against the army and police -- raising doubts over their capabilities as U.S. troops prepare to fully withdraw by the end of 2011.

The United States officially ended its combat mission last Tuesday, 7-1/2 years after the invasion.

The remaining 50,000 U.S. troops in Iraq will advise and assist Iraqi security forces, rather than lead the fight against Sunni Islamist insurgents and Shi'ite militia.

"Eight years have gone and we haven't been able to build a full-blown security. So God knows when Iraqis will be able to be responsible for their own security and the security of the Iraqi people," Allawi said.

U.S. soldiers opened fire and provided air support for Iraqi forces on Sunday, when up to six suicide bombers tried to storm an army base in Baghdad. Dozens of Iraqi army recruits and soldiers were killed by another suicide bomber at the same compound two weeks earlier.

STICKING POINT

Allawi said the main sticking points in coalition talks was the position of prime minister and the question of who had the right to form the next government.

Maliki reached out to Iraqiya after failing to persuade main Shi'ite ally, the Iraqi National Alliance, to support his bid for a second term.

Allawi said he was willing to allow another member of Iraqiya to take the position of prime minister, but stood firm in insisting that Iraqiya should have the first stab at forming the next government given its slim win in the general election.

Many Iraqis had hoped the election would bring greater stability to a country torn apart by war and left in economic ruins by sanctions, neglect and isolation.

But the political impasse has kept many foreign investors waiting on the sidelines. The deals signed with oil majors are moving forward slowly.

Allawi said it was important to divide power amongst all political blocs in Iraq's fledgling democracy.

"Because we are transitioning, we need to divide power, and we need to say that no one is going to be disenfranchised, and that no one is going to be the junior partner and the other is the senior partner," he said.

"Unfortunately, some of our colleagues in the political spectrum believe that to offer you one or two seats in the government is enough, and this is regarded as being part and parcel of the political process. We don't see this."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LDE6850PV.htm

[oxthom]

Iraqi politics is a merry-go-round. They move and have the the feeling of progress, but in the end they go nowhere!

[tommy17]

I still say if they quit paying these idiots things would get done real fast. Why hurry when they have electric , security, and are getting paid for arguing and threatning each other.

[Chief V]

Thanks Ron, not a very promising article that is for sure, but thanks regardless. Could it be I'm smelling cherry kool aid??

V

[bowling4dinars]

10 months after elections. unreal. thanks for the post