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Arab League Welcomes Iraq Reconciliation Plan

June 26, 2006 -- The secretary-general of the Arab League has welcomed an Iraqi government's national reconciliation plan, which is aimed at curbing violence in Iraq.

Amr Musa says the plan is an opportunity to begin "real and comprehensive" dialogue between all Iraqi political groups in order to realize security and stability.

He also expressed the hope it will help to speed up the process or building up the Iraqi forces to a point where they are able to assume security responsibilities currently handled by foreign troops.

Members of parliament are this week expected to start debating the details of the plan, which was presented by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on June 25.

Al-Maliki offered an "olive branch" to all those prepared to enter the political process and to take part in rebuilding Iraq.

Al-Maliki said his plan proposes an amnesty for insurgents who did not take part in criminal or terrorist crimes. He vowed that those guilty of killing and terrorism would be brought to justice.

Al-Maliki's proposal offered no timetable for a withdrawal of U.S. troops and the takeover of security duties by Iraqi forces.

The U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, welcomed the initiative and urged insurgents to lay down their arms and join the democratic process.

(AFP)

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org