Iraq to mediate with rebels through Sunnis

[Barrett808]

Iraq to mediate with rebels through Sunnis
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer
Published Tuesday, May 10th, 2005

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Iraq's new Shiite-dominated government is expected to let its Sunni Arab members use their political and tribal clout to reach out to insurgents, officials and lawmakers close to the government say.

The move to pursue channels with the homegrown part of the Sunni-led insurgency comes after more than three months of tough negotiations by Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to have his Cabinet include several Sunni Arabs with popular or tribal bases.

"Of course this is what will happen," said Hummam Hammoudi, a lawmaker and a senior aide to Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's largest Shiite Arab party and the largest faction in the parliament elected Jan. 30.

"We shall have a dialogue to rebuild Iraq with everyone who's taken a negative stand - from peaceful opposition to what is called honest resistance," Hammoudi added, meaning Iraqi nationalists opposed to the U.S. military presence but not foreign fighters and their Iraqi allies.

(more)

http://www.islandpacket.com/24hour/special_reports/iraq/story/2383610p-10642420c.html

[Teaser]

1. yeah yeah.

heard it.

[leftchick]

2. uh HELLO! They just abducted Saddam's guy. The new Governor

in Al Anbar...

Now he is a plain old collaborator. And probably a dead one.

~snip~
Gunmen Kidnap Governor of Iraqi Province

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Gunmen kidnapped the governor of Iraq's western Anbar province Tuesday and told his family he would be released when U.S. forces withdraw from Qaim, the site of a major new offensive against followers of Iraq's most-wanted militant, relatives said.

Gov. Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi was seized as he drove from Qaim to the provincial capital of Ramadi, his brother, Hammad, told The Associated Press.

The kidnappers later called the family and said they were holding the governor until U.S. forces pull out of the Syrian border town, about 200 miles west of Baghdad, Hammad Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi said.

~snip~

Al-Mahalawi only recently became governor after tribal leaders forced out his predecessor, Fassal Raikan al-Gout al-Namrawi, who narrowly escaped a roadside bombing in February. Al-Mahalawi, who is originally from Qaim, served as mayor of the town under Saddam Hussein.