Iraq's new PM

It's Jawad al-Maliki, a Shia Muslim who spent many years in exile leading anti-Saddam guerillas. Sunni politicians say they can work with al-Maliki, which could pave the way toward stable government:

The man tapped to be Iraq's next prime minister is a tough-minded veteran of the Shia religious cause who has butted heads with Sunni Arabs since returning from exile after the U.S. invasion.

Still, Sunni politicians said they can work with Jawad al-Maliki, who will try to form a unity government to confront the country's growing sectarian violence.

The nomination yesterday of Mr. al-Maliki broke a political deadlock dating back to the December election.

He replaces interim Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a political ally whose attempt to stay for a second term had been rejected by Sunni and Kurdish leaders.

Parliament was scheduled to meet today to elect top leadership positions, including the president, and launch the process of putting together a unity government.

U.S. and Iraqi officials are hoping that a government representing Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds will be able to quell both the Sunni-led insurgency and bloody Shiite-Sunni violence that has raged during the political uncertainty. If it succeeds, it could enable the United States to begin bringing home troops.
[...]
With the deal on Mr. al-Maliki, Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish parties were set to fill the other top posts of government in a parliament vote expected today, said Humam Hammoudi, the spokesman for the Shiite alliance.

Shia lawmaker Ridha Jawad Taqi said all sides were agreed on a package deal for the top spots: Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, would remain as president for a second term, with Sunni Arab Tariq al-Hashimi and Shiite Adil Abdul-Mahdi holding the two vice-president spots.

Slowly but surely, despite all the violence, sectarian divisions and chaos, a new Iraqi government is coming together. This gives me hope and optimism I haven't felt in quite some time.

Damian P.

Posted by damian at April 22, 2006 11:26 AM