Posted on Sun, Nov. 12, 2006
PM orders lawmakers to be loyal to IraqQASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered lawmakers on Sunday
to declare their loyalty to a unified Iraq - not their religious sects or political
parties, two members of parliament told The Associated Press.
Al-Maliki, who also said a government reshuffle was in the works, was
responding to questions by lawmakers during Sunday's closed session of
parliament.
In a statement afterward, al-Maliki's office said he used the meeting to outline
Iraq's political and security situation and plans for bringing stability to the
country.
-snip-Dhafer al-Ani, of the Sunni Iraqi Accordance Front, told The Associated Press
later that al-Maliki's comments "were disappointing because they were sidelining
(Sunnis) and included threats."
-snip-Al-Ani said al-Maliki blamed raging violence on Sunni extremists and followers of
Saddam Hussein and failed to accept blame for Shiite militias.
-snip-