BAGHDAD, June 25: Iraq’s prime minister presented a plan for national reconciliation to parliament on Sunday, but Nuri al-Maliki was short on detail on how he aims to end what he called the “ugly picture” of life in Iraq.
The plan has been the subject of intense behind-the-scenes negotiation among the fractious sectarian and ethnic parties that make up the governing coalition and the result appeared to have been an absence of much that was controversial.
In a sign of US allies’ eagerness to disengage their forces from Iraq, Japan began the withdrawal of its 550 troops from the south, sending out a convoy of armoured vehicles.
Listing the bloodshed and disorder that has made life almost unbearable for many, the Shias confirmed in office a month ago, said: “We must put an end to this ugly picture.”
Five people were killed in two car bombings in Baghdad on Sunday in the latest attacks.
After a 15-minute address, Maliki won approval from leaders of the Sunni minority that was dominant under Saddam Hussein, many of whom have rebelled against the new US-backed order.
But contrary to some suggestions floated by politicians during discussions on the plan, there was no bold new call for talks with Sunni insurgent groups nor reversal of bans on Saddam Hussein’s supporters in the Baath party — though he did promise a review of “debaathification” laws barring them from office.
Nor was there clear new language on dealing with the party militias, mostly backers of the Shia and Kurdish groups in the government. Instead, the reconciliation plan followed much of the outline of Maliki’s government platform issued in May.
TROOPS: In Samawa, journalists saw at least 15 transporters leave the Japanese base carrying armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles. “This is the start of the pull-out,” said a Japanese defence spokesman in Tokyo.—Reuters
