Iraq’s radical Shia bloc quits cabinet
Iraq’s radical Shia bloc quits cabinet
By Steve Negus, Iraq Correspondent
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: April 16 2007 10:05 | Last updated: April 16 2007 20:18
Radical Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered six cabinet members affiliated with his movement to quit the government, the head of the Sadrists’ parliamentary bloc said on Monday.
In some ways, the move may be a blessing for Nouri al-Maliki, prime minister, who had hoped to oust Sadrist ministers believed to have connections with militias.
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However, the en masse withdrawal may also be an ominous indication that the movement, which staged a large-scale insurrection in 2004, may be losing its appetite for participation in peaceful politics.
According to a statement read by Sadrist parliamentary leader Nassar al-Rubaie, the six ministers will ”withdraw immediately from the Iraqi government and give the six cabinet seats to the government, with the hope that they will be given to independents who represent the will of the people.”
The Sadrists held the ministries of health, agriculture, provincial affairs, transportation, tourism, and civil society organisations.
Mr Maliki had been trying for months to replace them, particularly the health minister, who according to US officials had allowed his ministry to be used by Shia militiamen.
However, Mr Maliki had reportedly hoped that Mr Sadr might give his blessing to a new set of ministers, rather than wash his hands of the government, as he appears to have done with Monday’s statement.
The Sadrists are a key component of the Shia-led coalition that dominates the government, and their grassroots base is much larger than that of Mr Maliki’s own al-Dawa party.
Their withdrawal comes as the gap between Mr Maliki and the Sadrists widens. Last week, the Sadrists staged demonstrations against the presence of US troops in Iraq, and threatened to pull out of government after Mr Maliki said that he had no plans to institute a timetable for their withdrawal.
The Sadrists also complain that a US and Iraqi government crackdown has ”unfairly” targeted Shia militias, and that their communities have been left vulnerable as a result.
A series of devastating bomb blasts targeting Shia civilians over the weekend may have fanned Sadrist anger. At least 47 people died Saturday in an attack in the holy city of Karbala, and dozens more on Sunday in a series of car bomb and other explosions in Baghdad.
Despite his opposition to American presence, Mr Sadr had reportedly ordered his followers not to attack US or Iraqi government troops as they stepped up operations in Sadrist strongholds.
Militiamen were already reportedly chafing under those restrictions, and the Sadrists pullout from government may be perceived by some commanders as a green light to step up attacks.
Mr Sadr’s decision to withdraw his ministers meanwhile may be an attempt to shore up his own authority as a militant opposition leader.
This is not the first time that the Sadrists have declared that they would pull out of government, but it appears to be the most substantive withdrawal from the political process.
The Sadrists staged a ”withdrawal” from government in November to protest a meeting between Mr Maliki and US President George W Bush. Sadrist legislators stopped going to parliament, but cabinet members remained in their posts.
By Steve Negus, Iraq Correspondent
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Published: April 16 2007 10:05 | Last updated: April 16 2007 20:18
Radical Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered six cabinet members affiliated with his movement to quit the government, the head of the Sadrists’ parliamentary bloc said on Monday.
In some ways, the move may be a blessing for Nouri al-Maliki, prime minister, who had hoped to oust Sadrist ministers believed to have connections with militias.
T
However, the en masse withdrawal may also be an ominous indication that the movement, which staged a large-scale insurrection in 2004, may be losing its appetite for participation in peaceful politics.
According to a statement read by Sadrist parliamentary leader Nassar al-Rubaie, the six ministers will ”withdraw immediately from the Iraqi government and give the six cabinet seats to the government, with the hope that they will be given to independents who represent the will of the people.”
The Sadrists held the ministries of health, agriculture, provincial affairs, transportation, tourism, and civil society organisations.
Mr Maliki had been trying for months to replace them, particularly the health minister, who according to US officials had allowed his ministry to be used by Shia militiamen.
However, Mr Maliki had reportedly hoped that Mr Sadr might give his blessing to a new set of ministers, rather than wash his hands of the government, as he appears to have done with Monday’s statement.
The Sadrists are a key component of the Shia-led coalition that dominates the government, and their grassroots base is much larger than that of Mr Maliki’s own al-Dawa party.
Their withdrawal comes as the gap between Mr Maliki and the Sadrists widens. Last week, the Sadrists staged demonstrations against the presence of US troops in Iraq, and threatened to pull out of government after Mr Maliki said that he had no plans to institute a timetable for their withdrawal.
The Sadrists also complain that a US and Iraqi government crackdown has ”unfairly” targeted Shia militias, and that their communities have been left vulnerable as a result.
A series of devastating bomb blasts targeting Shia civilians over the weekend may have fanned Sadrist anger. At least 47 people died Saturday in an attack in the holy city of Karbala, and dozens more on Sunday in a series of car bomb and other explosions in Baghdad.
Despite his opposition to American presence, Mr Sadr had reportedly ordered his followers not to attack US or Iraqi government troops as they stepped up operations in Sadrist strongholds.
Militiamen were already reportedly chafing under those restrictions, and the Sadrists pullout from government may be perceived by some commanders as a green light to step up attacks.
Mr Sadr’s decision to withdraw his ministers meanwhile may be an attempt to shore up his own authority as a militant opposition leader.
This is not the first time that the Sadrists have declared that they would pull out of government, but it appears to be the most substantive withdrawal from the political process.
The Sadrists staged a ”withdrawal” from government in November to protest a meeting between Mr Maliki and US President George W Bush. Sadrist legislators stopped going to parliament, but cabinet members remained in their posts.
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