Deal struck on Iraq government formation

[cbs71]

December 15, 2010

Sunni-backed politician to join government, clearing a final hurdle to end months of post-election deal-making

Iraqi President Jalal Talbani, left, Massoud Barzani, centre, leader of Iraq's Kurdish region and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki,

right, attend the 13th conference of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Arbil, northern Iraq. Eyad Allawi will join

Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government as head of a newly created council to oversee security and foreign policy issues.

Baghdad: The head of a Sunni-backed political party will join the Shiite-led government being assembled by his top rival, according to a spokeswoman, clearing a final hurdle to end months of tortuous, post-election deal-making.

The breakthrough on Tuesday cements what the Obama administration has been pushing for as US troops prepare to leave Iraq by the end of 2011: an inclusive government that distributes power among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds to forge stability after more than seven years of war.

As part of the deal, Eyad Allawi will join Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government as head of a newly created council to oversee security and foreign policy issues. The two rivals will make the same annual salary, believed to be at least $360,000.

Parliament still must decide how much power to give the new council.

Allawi, a former premier, had held out for months, insisting that he or one of his allies should be the next prime minister since his secular Iraqiya party narrowly won more seats than any other alliance in the March parliamentary election. He had long said he would refuse to join a government led by Al Maliki, a Shiite whom many Sunnis view with suspicion.

But after what appeared to be a warm 90-minute meeting between the two on Tuesday, Iraqiya spokeswoman said Maysoun Al Damlouji said Allawi expected to have broad powers as head of the National Council for Strategic Policies. The 20-member body will serve as a counterbalance to Al Maliki's major security and foreign policy decisions.

The detente came after intense lobbying by Vice-President Joe Biden and two US ambassadors. It was one of the last major hurdles Iraq's leaders wanted to clear before announcing the nation's new leaders within a constitutionally required negotiation period that ends December 25.

Aides said Al Maliki is now expected to formally announce the new government on December 23. Parliament must then approve the Cabinet.

Allawi did not confirm that he had accepted a post in Al Maliki's Cabinet when briefing reporters after the discussion, which he described as "a positive fruitful meeting" where strategic affairs and Iraq's security were the top topics.

"We reached a joint vision," Allawi said of his former rival. "Each of us has an experience that complements the other."

Al Maliki said the meeting focused on building a strong Iraq.

"There are great challenges and we have the ability to confront all these challenges," he said.

Under the deal, 80 per cent of the new council must approve the policies it will oversee, according to a second Allawi aide who spoke on condition of anonymity to explain the sensitive negotiations. Parliament will meet Saturday to discuss the creation of the new council and its powers.

Last month, Allawi told CNN that he would not take part in Al Maliki's government and described the power-sharing deal as dead. His comments came after Al Maliki cobbled together enough support from Shiite allies, including Iranian-influenced religious hard-liners, to remain as prime minister even though his party fell short of winning the March 7 vote.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner cautiously applauded the breakthrough in an ever-fluid political atmosphere where past deals have broken apart.

"This appears to be a positive development," Toner said. "We welcome the Iraqiya statement on Allawi's willingness to join the coalition government, but clearly the process is ongoing. Our objective remains the same to see a credible Iraqi-led process that results in a government that reflects the results of the election."

The election's failure to yield a clear winner threw Iraq into political chaos and stoked Sunni insurgents' hopes that they could use violence to return the country to the brink of civil war. With a wary eye on the planned departure of American troops at the end of 2011, US officials since have been pushing Iraqi leaders to broker a compromise and form an all-inclusive government.

By all accounts, the back-room negotiating has been a politically painful and laborious process, with tensions between Allawi and Al Maliki so sour that a fellow lawmaker was taken aback by the warmth of Tuesday's meeting.

"I was happy and surprised at the harmony and the understanding in the meeting," said Shiite lawmaker and former Prime Minister Ebrahim Al Jaafari, who attended the discussion.

The political breakthrough came amid reminders of the violence that continues to beset Iraq. Roadside bombs struck crowds of Iraqis as they prepared to mark the year's most solemn Shiite religious ceremony, killing three people and wounding at least 31, police said.

Shiites from across Iraq are headed to Karbala for Ashoura, which marks the anniversary of the seventh century death of Imam Hussain in a killing that sealed Islam's historic Sunni-Shiite split. Karbala is located about 80kilometres south of Baghdad. Sunni insurgents in Iraq have frequently targeted Shiite shrines and visitors.

Separately, a roadside bomb in the northern city of Kirkuk killed one passer-by and wounded two others, city police and hospital officials said.

http://gulfnews.com/...mation-1.730616

[Drez]

GREAT NEWS, can't wait to hear what happens today and the meetings.

[cbs71]

GREAT NEWS, can't wait to hear what happens today and the meetings.

I know right...here at work and trying to concentrate is almost impossible...LOL!!!

This is a step in the right direction as the dominoes seems to be falling into place............

[inheritance]

Thanks for the post buddy!.

[cbs71]

Thanks for the post buddy!.

you're welcome mi amigo!!!

Now, let's RV!!!!

[renegets]

its thr rv out yet?

[EBJNYC]

Allawi and Maliki -- FINALLY -- playing nice together -- great news !!!!

[detroitjazzman]

For a newly formed democracy....they seem to have back room dealing down to a science

Edited December 15, 2010 by detroitjazzman