Iraq govt plans reshuffle, cites loyalty doubts

[ECH1969]

Iraq's prime minister plans to reshuffle his cabinet just 100 days after it was formed because of frustrations with some ministers' performance and disloyalty among others, Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih told Reuters.

Some changes will involve the movement of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, several political sources said on Sunday. A key player in the government formed in May after months of wrangling, Sadr denies his Mehdi Army militia runs some of the sectarian death squads behind much recent violence.

"Some people have a foot in the government and a foot outside," Salih said. "They have to make a choice. Either they are part of the government and abide by the policies of the government or be outside the government.

A senior official in Maliki's United Alliance, the Shi'ite Islamist bloc that dominates parliament, said he expected some changes to be announced before parliament reconvenes in a week after its summer recess. One minister from the Sadr movement, the transport minister, has already resigned, officials said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/B928849.htm

[rodeodance]

1. it is way past this time!

..Beyond the cabinet, there has also been speculation that the outspoken Sunni speaker of parliament Mahmoud al-Mashhadani may be replaced soon.

Salih said the government was making progress in engaging with rebel groups formerly opposed to the U.S.-sponsored political process and that it would soon start implementing promises Maliki made in turn to promote reconciliation, notably with the once dominant Sunni Arab minority of Saddam Hussein.

Among such promises, were freeing insurgent suspects and promoting economic growth in the Sunni west and north.

Salih said Iraq's political leadership must work together or face civil war: "All say at least that civil war will be a catastrophe for all.

"But if we are not careful and if we do not ... walk back from the extreme polarisation ... we cannot be so sure about the future. It has reached a stage where people understand that meaningful action needs to be undertaken."

[Kagemusha]

2. I shudder to think how Bush's impatience affects this.

This is just going to be lovely.