Iraqi Parliament Objects to Baghdad Wall

[cal04]

Source: Associated Press

Iraq's parliament objected Saturday to the construction of walls around Baghdad neighborhoods and called on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to testify about other security issues.

Construction of the walls - particularly in the Baghdad neighborhood of Azamiyah - has been criticized by residents and Sunni clerics who say it is a form of sectarian discrimination. Even followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr complained, fearing their strongholds in the capital will soon be split by the barriers.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have defended the construction of the barriers, which began last month, as a temporary measure to protect the neighborhood during the 12-week-old security crackdown in Baghdad. When the wall is finished, Azamiyah will be gated and checkpoints manned by Iraqi soldiers will be the only entries, the U.S. military said, stressing that the decision was made in coordination with the Iraqis.

Parliament took up the issue Saturday in a raucous session that included debate on the continuing U.S. military presence in Iraq, security raids and human rights abuses. Lawmakers interrupted each other and speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhdani struggled to maintain order.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070512/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_parliament_2

[madrchsod]

1. every thing is coming up roses in iraq!

[Benhurst]

2. Jeez! They are free now. Time to shut up and get with the Bush Crime Family angeda.

:patriot:

[me b zola]

3. The (majority of the) Iraqi Parliament also objects to the US occupation...

But the oil execs * administration doesn't much care what the sovereign, democratic nation of Iraq says.

[pinkpops]

4. would that be the demoraticaly elected parlaiment that went

to the polls in overwhelming numbers?

[me b zola]

6. It was the purple-fingered people

...who went to the polls in overwhelming numbers to vote for their Parliament.

[tabasco]

5. But...but...but...we had that big ceremony where we "gave them back" their sovereignty!!

LMFAO!! How dare the provincial puppets question a decree of the Imperial Proconsul??

[struggle4progress]

7. Fences and checkpoints! Welcome to -- the Ownership Society!