Al-Hakim calls for "security agreement"

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Al-Hakim calls for "security agreement"

By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 33 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - The leader of Iraq's largest Shiite political party on
Saturday called for a "security agreement" to be negotiated between
Iraq and U.S.-led forces to outline the authorities of each side in a
further indication of growing frustration over America's role in Iraq.

Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim did not give more details of the proposed pact.
In the past he has repeatedly complained that the U.S. military's
lead in the fight against Sunni insurgents hampered the work of
Iraq's Shiite-dominated security forces, which he contended were
better qualified to fight the insurgents given their knowledge of the
terrain and language.

"We are working toward reaching a security agreement to define the
authority of each side," al-Hakim told a news conference after a two-
day meeting of his party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq.

-snip-

Addressing the same news conference, senior al-Hakim aide Hummam
Hamoudi sought to play down the significance of a timetable for the
withdrawal of foreign forces, saying it was more important to reach
a timetable for the training and equipping of Iraqi troops.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070512/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_shiite_party_1

[maddezmom]

1. Iraqi PM agrees to bigger Sunni role

Iraqi PM agrees to bigger Sunni role By HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writers
17 minutes ago



BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki agreed to give Sunnis a bigger role in security operations in their areas, lawmakers said Sunday, in a deal that staves off a threatened Sunni walkout that could have toppled the Shiite leader's embattled government.

The deal reached with Iraq's Sunni vice president could help assuage long-standing Sunni complaints that Shiite-dominated security forces unfairly target Sunni areas but avoid cracking down on Shiite militias linked to influential politicians.

The Bush administration has been pushing al-Maliki for months to reach out more to the once-dominant Sunni Arab minority, giving them a genuine role in the running of the country as part of a wider drive toward national unity that officials hope will reduce the country's rampant violence.

more;http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070513/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_politics_1