Ahrar bloc tries to bring SLC and Iraqiya together
17/01/2012 15:43BAGHDAD, Jan. 17 (AKnews) - The Sadrist movement's Ahrar bloc on Tuesday launched a fresh effort at mediating between the State of Law Coalition and Iraqiya List in the run up to the national conference of all Iraqi political parties.
The political tension escalated in Iraq after Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, a leading member of Iraqiya List, was indicted for terrrorism. He is wanted on charges of using his bodyguards as hit men, assassinating leading Shiites. The turmoil this created was stirred up even further when Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki fired his deputy Saleh al-Mutlaq for likening the Prime Minister to a dictator.
Mutlaq unapologetically repeated his comparison in an exclusive interview with AKnews on Jan. 11, saying Maliki and his Dawa party are running Iraq as a dictatorship.
The Ahrar bloc leader Hakim al-Zamili told AKnews: "We are seeking to end the political stalemate in the country. Ahrar began to hold meetings with SLC leaders and Iraqiya to solve problems through dialogue instead of media escalation."
Iraqiya decided to boycott Councils of Ministers and Representatives' meetings saying it is being marginalized, excluded and accused Maliki of unilateral decision making.
Maliki decided a few days ago to give open-ended leaves-of-absence for the boycotting ministers and assigned colleagues to manage their portfolios. This upset Iraqiya even more.
By Mouhammed al-Tayyeb
RN/JS/AKnews
