BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — A leading Sunni politician said Friday his party would be open to an alliance with secular Shiites and Kurds to form a coalition government to run the country once the results are in from this week's parliamentary elections.
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U.S. officials view al-Dulaimi, who heads an alliance called the Iraqi Accordance Front, as a possible intermediary who could persuade some Sunni-led insurgent groups in restive Anbar province to join the political process after boycotting previous votes.
In an interview with The Associated Press, al-Dulaimi predicted that Shiite religious parties would be unable to form a government — even though they are widely expected to take the largest number of seats.
That would open the door to a coalition of Sunnis, secular Shiites and Kurds, al-Dulaimi said.
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Under the newly ratified constitution, the party with the biggest number of seats gets first crack at trying to form a government than can win parliament's endorsement. That is likely to be the coalition of Shiite religious parties that dominate the outgoing government.
Still, a government with strong Sunni Arab representation could help defuse the Sunni-dominated insurgency and allow the United States and its coalition partners to begin removing troops next year.
GOI: This is a great sign that the Sunni are beginning to see the importance of the political process.
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2 comments:
The Sunnis appear to be giving it a shot, but, from the other side, this about on the level of a democrat house member saying we'd be anxious to work in a bipartisan way.
It's good news that the Sunnis are willing to try, but the whole thing rests on whether the Shias will let them.
And, I would think that the Shias, matter how fractious would rather work with each other than with the Sunnis.
We can hope though.
Mike
Mike: Good thoughts here...I agree that the lynch pin now rests with the Shia. They need to step up and amend the constitution to be more inclusive to the Sunni.
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