On the formation of the Iraqi government
Iraq, Politics, 3/24/2006

The US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld said that what he described as terrorists were intending by blowing of the Shiite shrine in Samaraa to obstruct the formation of a national unity government in Iraq.

Rumsfeld said yesterday that the formation of a good, competent, inclusive government in Baghdad that represents and serves all the Iraqi people who voted in recent elections would help reduce the existing levels of violence.

Delays in forming the new Iraqi government have not been helpful, he said, and some of the recent violence might not have happened if Iraqi politicians had reached consensus on the government more quickly.

It is difficult for the Iraqis who lived through the repressive regime of Saddam Hussein to achieve cooperation easily, Rumsfeld said.  It will take time, he explained, for them to develop the skills needed to do something they have not had a chance to do before: “negotiate and compromise.”

The American ambassador in Baghdad Zalmay Khalilzad said his country hopes to see the Iraqis forming this government as soon as possible.

It is, however, presumed that the Iraqi leaders will resume their talks to form the Iraqi government later this day in Baghdad at the headquarters of the Iraqi president Jalal al-Talibani whose term of office expired.

It is expected that the issue of choosing candidates for the post of the President, the prime minister and the speaker of parliament will be on top of the meeting's agenda, in addition to the powers to be given to the National Security Council which political blocs leaders agreed to form last Saturday.

This has come while the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafaari whose term of office expired and representatives for the Shiite Iraqi coalition denied what sources in their parliamentary bloc said that in addition to al-Jaafari there are two other nominated names for the post of Prime Minister.

Previous Stories:
  UN notes increased killings and torture in Iraq   (3/23/2006)
  US urges for a unity government in Iraq   (3/23/2006)
  CIA revelation on US decision to make war on Iraq   (3/23/2006)
  Hakim call for a central Iraq's district   (3/21/2006)
  Iraq greets fourth year of occupation with lost security, adjourned government   (3/20/2006)
  Jaafari ready to withdraw if it serves the nation   (3/17/2006)

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