Iraqi PM calls for crisis summit

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Last Updated: Sunday, 12 August 2007, 15:19 GMT 16:19 UK

Iraqi PM calls for crisis summit

Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, has called for a summit
of the nation's main political factions in an attempt to break
Iraq's political paralysis.

In recent weeks almost all Sunni members of the cabinet
have quit. Others are boycotting meetings, leaving at least
17 cabinet seats empty.

-snip-

A BBC correspondent says the crisis is worrying for the US,
which wants to see progress before withdrawing troops.

-snip-

A senior Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, has already arrived
in Baghdad for the talks.

It is expected he will play a key role in the negotiations,
says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Baghdad.

-snip-


Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6943120.stm

---

Source: Reuters

PM Maliki says crisis summit will start soon
Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:57PM BST

By Mariam Karouny and Peter Graff

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki
said on Sunday a much-anticipated summit of the country's
leaders to resolve a political deadlock could begin in the
next two days.

Maliki, whose "national unity" government has been in crisis
since the main Sunni Arab bloc quit, said he would either lure
them back or find others to replace them.

"We must look for solutions for the problems we are facing.
I've called the political leaders for a meeting to discuss the
main issues in the political process," Maliki said. "The first
meeting may happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow."

U.S. officials have called the meeting a make-or-break
moment for the government, which was formed in 2006 to
reduce violence by including all groups, but has been
paralysed by boycotts and infighting on ethnic and
sectarian lines.

-snip-

Read more: http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUKGRA24986120...

[Xipe Totec]

1. As an incentive, every attendee will get a personalized mug

[seemslikeadream]

2. Doesn't he know we're all on vacation?

[Pirate Smile]

3. LOL

[seemslikeadream]

5. Can't seem to get my mind off of you

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=883129813954866...

[ixion]

4. boy, look at that 'surge' go

[bemildred]

6. Maliki forms "Tiger Team(tm)" to address political deadlock.

Seeks ISO 9000 certification for Iraqi government. Institutes achievement testing for all Iraqi citizens.

[truthisfreedom]

7. The crop of 'thug prez candidates would like to believe that their "stay the course" plan is the one

that will keep a lid on Iraq until one of them gets in office, but it seems that the painful facts of the reality in Iraq will forcibly draw our attention back there no matter HOW severe our "Iraq-fatigue."

[rodeodance]

8. looks like he will have a party and no one will come (well -a few will)

"I have called the political leaders for a meeting to discuss the main issues in the political process. The first meeting may happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," Mr Maliki announced on Sunday.

A senior Kurdish leader, Massoud Barzani, has already arrived in Baghdad for the talks.

It is expected he will play a key role in the negotiations, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Baghdad.

In particular he will try to get the Sunni parties to decide whether to rejoin the government or go into opposition.

Coalition weakened

Many Iraqi MPs are not in the Iraqi capital at present because parliament is in its summer recess, which does not end until next month.

[rodeodance]

9. I read that many of parliment went to Jordan

[ClintonTyree]

10. Good luck with that, Maliki....

first, you have to get everyone back (that's coming back) from vacation. In Iraq that's like trying to herd cats....cat's with guns and bombs. THEN you have to get them to actually AGREE on something, a task that has so far eluded you or anyone else connected to the Iraqi "government".

Get back to me and let me know how this works out, OK, Maliki? Don't worry, your buddy Bush has infinite patience, money and American soldiers......or so he thinks. He'll give you everything you need, at least until January, 2009.

[MichiganVote]

11. Crisis? What crisis? We're makin' progress don't ya know...

Must be they can't embezzle enough of the US money for themselves anymore.

[roamer65]

12. Mike Malloy last week gave Maliki two weeks.

Malloy just may turn out to be right.

[Speaker]

13. This can't be.

Everyone knows the surge has resulted in billions of tons of rose petals being thrown at the feet of our warriors.

Why does Maliki hate America?