Iraqi PM Sees 'Unity Government' This Week
09 May 2006
Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nouri al-Maliki says he hopes to complete formation of a national unity government very soon.
Speaking at a news conference in Baghdad Tuesday, Mr. Maliki said the top Cabinet positions already have been filled, based on nominations by Iraq's Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish power blocs.
Mr. Maliki did not name any of his ministerial choices. He says he expects the Cabinet to be complete either today or Wednesday, so he can seek parliament's approval of the new government later this week.
The prime minister says the new defense and interior ministers will have no links to any sectarian militias - a key demand of the U.S.-led coalition, since those ministries control all Iraqi military and police forces.
American officials say a national unity government in Iraq is key to stemming bloodshed and averting a possible civil war.
Mr. Maliki has about two more weeks to meet a constitutional deadline for naming a new government.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
