Rift between Sadr bloc and Iraqi PM widens

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Rift between Sadr bloc and Iraqi PM widens
08 Jul 2007 15:47:54 GMT

BAGHDAD, July 8 (Reuters) - A powerful Shi'ite bloc lashed
out at Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Sunday after
he accused it of failing to take a clear stance on violence,
signalling a deepening rift between Maliki and a former
backer.

Followers from the movement of anti-American Shi'ite cleric
Moqtada al-Sadr, whose support propelled Maliki into the
prime minister's office last year, also held street protests
in Baghdad in the wake of the Iraqi leader's comments on
Saturday.

"This government is at the edge of an abyss. It will collapse,"
said Ahmed al-Shaibany, a prominent cleric and member of
Sadr's inner circle of advisers.

"Maliki ... wants to send a message to the (U.S.) occupiers:
'I can implement your requests' ... We tell you that you are
committing a mistake," he said in a statement.

Another top Sadr aide made similar comments in a statement.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/BUL853592.htm

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Yesterday: Iraq PM warns Sadr movement over violence - Reuters

Also: No-Confidence Vote Looms Over Iraq's PM - CBS via LBN

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Source: Agence France-Presse

Sadr movement warns Iraqi PM to back off

by Hassan Abdul Zahra
Sun Jul 8, 7:32 AM ET

NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - Followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
have accused Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of attacking them in
order to appease his US allies Sunday and warned him his days
in office might be numbered.

On Saturday, Maliki issued a bluntly worded statement calling
on Sadr's Mahdi Army to put aside its weapons and alleged the
movement had been infiltrated by terrorist supporters of Saddam
Hussein's ousted regime.

Sadr's aides reacted with fury, and some suggested the statement
had been designed to pave the way for a crackdown on their
populist Shiite movement, which fields one of Iraq's largest armed
militias.

"Maliki's statement is just like a green light to occupation troops
to strike and annihilate the Sadr movement," said Salah al-Ubaidi,
Sadr's spokesman at his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070708/wl_mideast_afp/iraqpoliticssadr_070708113214

[High Plains]

The Iraqi government is falling apart.

Doesn't matter how successful the "surge" is if there is no working government.

[High Plains]

1. The Iraqi government is falling apart.

Doesn't matter how successful the "surge" is if there is no working government.