BAGHDAD, April 1: Members of Iraq’s dominant Shia United Iraqi Alliance on Saturday for the first time asked incumbent Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari to withdraw his candidacy to head the next government.
The move by the Shia MPs, the first time splits have opened within the alliance over the nomination, was aimed at resolving political deadlock that has stalled formation of a new government over three months after elections.
Individual members of the Shia alliance confirmed that a number of their colleagues have asked for Mr Jaafari’s withdrawal.
“I called on Jaafari to take this bold and responsible step in order to preserve the unity of Iraqi people by withdrawing his candidacy,” Qassim Daoud, an independent Shia politician from within the alliance, said.
He said the request was made to Mr Jaafari following deadlock in talks to form a new government, caused in part by a strong opposition to his candidacy from the Kurdish, Sunnis and other secular blocs.
Saad Jawad Qandil, member of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), one of the key parties in the Shia alliance, also confirmed that a number of alliance members were asking for Mr Jaafari’s withdrawal.
“There have been numerous calls from the members of the Iraqi Alliance, on an individual basis without being the view of the entire bloc, to change the current candidate of the alliance, Jaafari, to resolve the ongoing political crisis,” Mr Qandil said.
Mr Jaafari’s own Dawa Party rejected the call and maintained the need for the alliance’s unity around their candidate.
“It is a mistake for anyone to ask Jaafari to step done publicly,” said Khodeir Khuzaie, a party official. “It would be better to discuss this internally and direct this opposition to the alliance.”
“Jaafari is the candidate of the alliance and the alliance will not let him down,” he added.
Mr Jaafari’s candidacy has been opposed as other political groups believe he has been unable to contain the raging resistance and are worried by the perceived sectarian bent of many of his ministers.
SECURITY PORTFOLIO: On Saturday Iraqi leaders were also bidding to resolve a dispute between the country’s Shia and Sunni leaders on who would oversee the security portfolio in the next government.
A special six-member team of leaders — two each from the Shia, Sunni and the Kurdish alliances — has been formed to thrash out the issue.
The Shias want security under the charge of the prime minister, while the Sunnis demand a say in it, preferably through a deputy prime minister also having responsibility.—AFP
