Sunni Chief Offers to Form Iraq Alliance
17/12/2005| IslamWeb
A leading Sunni Arab politician in Iraq
Adnan al-Dulaimi, the head of a Sunni Arab bloc, said on Friday: "We will not accept the exclusion of any segment of the Iraqi people unless they themselves don't want to participate."
Al-Dulaimi predicted that religious Shia parties would be unable to form a government, even though they are widely expected to take the most seats.
That would open the door to a coalition of Sunnis, secular Shia and Kurds, the former Islamic studies professor said.
However, his prediction that the Shia would be unable to form a government is by no means a certainty.
Before Thursday's election, religious Shia politicians said they expected to win up to 120 seats - a loss of 26 seats from their current level.
The Shia and Kurds won a disproportionate number of seats in the January ballot because so many Sunnis boycotted the election. This time, Sunnis turned out in large numbers.
Jawad al-Maliki, a prominent Shia legislator, said there was "no doubt that initial results show that we will be the strong bloc" but that a coalition would probably be required - possibly with some Sunni Arabs.
Another Shia politician, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, said the Shia would try to form an "inclusive" government even if they do not have to.
PHOTO CAPTION
Iraqi supporters of the Tawafoq Iraqi Front list, Sunni Arab, cruise the streets with cars covered with election campaign posters with pictures of their list's leaders, Al Hewar National Iraqi Council leader Khalaf Elayyan, left, Iraqi Islamic Party leader Tariq Al Hashimi, center and The General Council for Iraqi People leader Adnan Al Dulimi, right in Baghdad, Iraq Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005. (AP)
A leading Sunni Arab politician in
Adnan al-Dulaimi, the head of a Sunni Arab bloc, said on Friday: "We will not accept the exclusion of any segment of the Iraqi people unless they themselves don't want to participate."
Al-Dulaimi predicted that religious Shia parties would be unable to form a government, even though they are widely expected to take the most seats.
That would open the door to a coalition of Sunnis, secular Shia and Kurds, the former Islamic studies professor said.
However, his prediction that the Shia would be unable to form a government is by no means a certainty.
Before Thursday's election, religious Shia politicians said they expected to win up to 120 seats - a loss of 26 seats from their current level.
The Shia and Kurds won a disproportionate number of seats in the January ballot because so many Sunnis boycotted the election. This time, Sunnis turned out in large numbers.
Jawad al-Maliki, a prominent Shia legislator, said there was "no doubt that initial results show that we will be the strong bloc" but that a coalition would probably be required - possibly with some Sunni Arabs.
Another Shia politician, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, said the Shia would try to form an "inclusive" government even if they do not have to.
PHOTO CAPTION
Iraqi supporters of the Tawafoq Iraqi Front list, Sunni Arab, cruise the streets with cars covered with election campaign posters with pictures of their list's leaders, Al Hewar National Iraqi Council leader Khalaf Elayyan, left, Iraqi Islamic Party leader Tariq Al Hashimi, center and The General Council for Iraqi People leader Adnan Al Dulimi, right in Baghdad, Iraq Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005. (AP)