FALLUJA, May 3: A suicide bomber blew himself up among a crowd of men waiting to sign up to join the police in the Iraqi city of Falluja on Wednesday, killing 18 people, doctors said.
Violence has flared in mainly Sunni Anbar province, with US and Iraqi forces killing over 100 guerillas over the past week in the capital Ramadi and a suicide car bomber killing 10 in an attempt to assassinate the governor on Tuesday.
Parliament, which will soon vote on forming a government of national unity — seen as the best hope for ending the bloodshed — began its first normal business session since being elected in December.
But speaker Mahmoud al Mashhadani postponed what was to have been the most important task, the selection of a committee to review and amend the constitution, until after a new government is formed and approved by parliament.
“I suggest waiting to form the constitutional committee until the forming of the next government and the situation stabilises because it is an important issue and needs more negotiation among the blocs,” he said.
RAINBOW CABINET: Sunnis say the constitution gives too much power to the Shias and want it changed, demanding they head the review committee.
Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki has said he hopes to announce a rainbow coalition to embrace Shias, Sunnis and Kurds, a step seen as vital to quelling the resistance and mounting sectarian bloodshed involving guerrillas on all sides. He has 30 days from April 22 to present a list to the 275-member parliament for its approval.—Reuters
