PM postpones government reshuffle
Azzaman, December 28, 2006
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not been able to muster enough support to introduce new changes in his government.
Parliamentary blocs have been adamant in their attitude not to give any concession that would have seen a reformed government brought to light this year.
Maliki had promised President George Bush during a meeting held in Amman recently that he would form a national unity government as part of efforts to contain terror and violence.
The Prime Minister had hoped to have the unity government in place before Bush’s much-awaited for announcement of his new Iraq strategy.
Bush is expected to make public his new Iraq policy early next year and Mailiki now fears he might not be able to honor his pledge to have the national unity government ready by then.
“The prime minister is facing huge hurdles in his efforts in this regard. Political forces in the country are still using wrong methods in their approaches,” said Abdulkarim al-Anzi of the ruling unified Iraqi coalition.
Anzi said some political parties in the parliament were not willing to accept any changes in the structure of the government while others persisted on certain names.
“This is a difficult situation,” he said.
