BBC (Sunday): Iraq PM suffers cabinet setback

[Jack Rabbit]

From the BBC Online
Dated Sunday May 8 11:05 GMT (4:05 am PDT)

Iraq PM suffers cabinet setback

Iraq's parliament has approved six new ministers to fill key contested cabinet posts, but one nominee immediately refused to join the government.
Hashim al-Shible, a Sunni Arab, turned down the post of human rights minister.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari seemed to have agreed all but one of the seven remaining posts, giving four to Sunnis.

The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says Mr Jaafari hoped to cut the ground from insurgents within their community by bringing Sunnis into government.

Read more.

[grytpype]

1. Can't say I blame him...

>Hashim al-Shible, a Sunni Arab, turned down the post of human rights minister.

That would have to be just about the worst job in the new "government!"

And, Mr. al-Shible probably wants to live to see another day!

[Jack Rabbit]

2. He didn't want to be a token Sunni

But Mr Shible rejected his post, saying he had not been consulted about the appointment and was selected only because he was a Sunni.

"Concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post," he said, quoted by AP news agency.

[leftchick]

3. Newly approved Iraq minister rejects post

another link...

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/world/11596532.htm

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's newly approved human rights minister turned down the job Sunday, saying he was selected only because he was a Sunni Arab.

"Concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post," Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli told reporters at a news briefing.

Al-Shibli was one of four Sunni Arabs handed posts in Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's new government Sunday, bringing their total representation in Cabinet to seven.

[UpInArms]

4. Newly approved Iraq (Human Rights) minister rejects post

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/world/11596532.htm

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's newly approved human rights minister turned down the job Sunday, saying he was selected only because he was a Sunni Arab.

"Concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post," Hashim Abdul-Rahman al-Shibli told reporters at a news briefing.

Al-Shibli was one of four Sunni Arabs handed posts in Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's new government Sunday, bringing their total representation in Cabinet to seven.

Al-Jaafari had hoped to curb support for Iraq's deadly insurgency by including members of the disaffected Sunni minority into his Shiite-dominated Cabinet. However, nearly 300 people have been killed in a surge of militant attacks since the government took office April 28 with seven vacancies.

...more...