Iraqi Interior Minister to Purge Agency to Stem Killings

[ECH1969]

Iraq’s interior minister, under pressure from Western officials and some Iraqi leaders to purge the ministry of sectarian influence, said Friday that he was preparing to reshuffle its leadership, and that he had the political backing to carry out the plan.

The minister, Jawad al Bolani, said in an interview on Friday that he had received the support of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a Shiite, to make all necessary changes among his top commanders.

Although Mr. Bolani has made some strides toward accomplishing his reform goals, including firing thousands of employees, Western officials and some Iraqi officials have said that he has lacked the political support to conduct the necessary purges, particularly at the upper levels of the ministry.

According to American officials close to the ministry, among the commanders Mr. Bolani may replace is Adnan al-Asadi, the deputy minister of administration, who is suspected of abetting the Shiite militias. Mr. Bolani denied those assertions on Friday.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/14/world/middleeast/14iraq.html?_r=1&oref=slogin