Al-Maliki faces revolt within government

[ProSense]

Al-Maliki faces revolt within government

By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faced a widening revolt within his divided government as two senior Sunni politicians joined prominent Shiite lawmakers and Cabinet members in criticizing his policies.

Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi said he wanted to see al-Maliki's government gone and another "understanding" for a new coalition put in place with guarantees that ensure collective decision making.

"There is a clear deterioration in security and everything is moving in the wrong direction," the Sunni leader told The Associated Press. "This situation must be redressed as soon as possible. If they continue, the country will plunge into civil war."

Al-Maliki's No. 2, Deputy Prime Minister Salam Zikam Ali al-Zubaie, also a Sunni, argued that the president's government failed to curb the spread of sectarian politics.

A boycott by 30 lawmakers and five Cabinet ministers loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was in protest of al-Maliki's meeting with President Bush in Jordan on Thursday. The Sadrists said the meeting amounted to an affront to the Iraqi people.

Al-Maliki appealed to the Sadrists to end their boycott and admonished them for an action that he said violated the commitment expected from partners in his 6-month-old coalition government.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_061130160135">more...

[Ninja Jordan]

1. Everybody Wang Chung Tonight!

[pinto]

2. Maliki seems to have cast his lot with the Bush Administration, regardless of appearances.

It smacks of a last ditch gambit to hold some semblance of control in the midst of chaos. Personally, I think the government will fall, but that's a slim 2 cents from a joe schmo watching events unfold on TV and the internet.