Newly appointed Sunni minister rejects taking part in the Iraqi government
Iraq, Politics, 5/9/2005

Hashem al-Shabli, who was appointed for the post of the Human Rights minister in the government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari as a representative for the Arab Sunni stressed he rejected accepting this post.

Al-Shebli said in a press conference held at the headquarters of the democratic national party which is led by Naseir al-Jadiri that he was not asked by any side to occupy this post and that he rejects it because it contradicts his personal principles and convictions and the values and principles of his party.

This came hours after the Iraqi interim National Assembly ( parliament) agreed to the appointment of five ministers and one deputy for the prime minister as a completion for the vacant posts in the government of al-Jaafari.

In a press conference in Baghdad, al-Jaafari stressed that these names won the majority of 112 out of 155 who were taking part in Sunday's meeting, noting that the names which occupied the vacant seats are Abd Mutlaqi al-Jabouri as a deputy prime minister; Ibrahim Baher al-Oloum as a minister of oil, Sadoun al-Duleimi as a defense minister; Hashem al-Shibli as a minister of human rights; Osama al- Jaqifi as a minister of industry and Mohsein Shalash as aminister of electricity.

He stressed that another deputy premier might be appointed and this might be a woman. Thereby the government's formation will be completed. He stressed that he will work strongly in order to complete the constitution at a time set on August 15 and then to be put for referendum, two months after this date.

Previous Stories:
  Al-Jaafari government and the vacant seats   (5/7/2005)
  On the American losses in Iraq   (5/7/2005)
  Iraq returns its ambassador to Jordan   (5/7/2005)

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