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Maliki says rivals putting Iraqi security at risk

by Staff Writers
Baghdad (AFP) Dec 10, 2009
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accused rivals on Thursday of stoking political rows which have put Iraq's security at risk, as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates made a surprise visit to Baghdad.

During questioning in parliament, Maliki said Iraq's security forces needed to be de-politicised, after coordinated bombings on Tuesday that rocked Baghdad killing 127 people.

"Now if I detain Osama bin Laden, some people will ask, 'Why did you arrest him? He is a mujaheed (religious fighter)'," Maliki reportedly said of disputes between political groups that he said were causing violence.

He spoke for five and a half hours in a closed-door meeting attended by 190 MPs, and his remarks were quoted by Shiite MP Samira al-Mussawi, who was present.

"All of the recent crime is because of political and sectarian differences. I call on parliament to issue a decision to purify the security services from anyone who belongs to any political party, including my party," Maliki was quoted as saying.

He also accused rival groups of blocking the appointment of a new intelligence chief, Mussawi told reporters.

"The intelligence services cannot appoint any chief because there is no political consensus on it," the premier said. "Every party wants to be in charge of this service."

"This security organisation is handicapped because there is no consensus."

The intelligence post has been vacant for several months. Its last occupant, Major General Abdullah Sherwani, left after twin bombings against the foreign and finance ministries in Baghdad in August.

For his part, Falah Shanshal, the chair of the justice committee, told AFP: "There is huge anger in parliament because of the security violations.

"We want to know who was negligent in order to punish them and replace them with someone else. Today's session is to understand the failures, to stop the security violations and to find a solution because the blood of Iraqis is being shed every day."

Baha al-Araji, the chair of parliament's legal committee, said MPs had voted in favour of Defence Minister Abdul Qader Obeidi and Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani facing questioning on Saturday.

It was unclear whether either would attend.

Maliki on Wednesday sacked Baghdad's security chief over the blasts, which also wounded 450 people and undermined government claims of improved security ahead of March elections.

On Thursday morning, increased numbers of soldiers and policemen were out on the streets of central Baghdad, and at least one bridge was closed off.

Despite the stepped up security, a gunman shot dead an imam in the predominantly Sunni neighbourhood of Ghazaliyah in the west of the capital, an interior ministry official said.

On a surprise visit to Baghdad, Gates met Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, offering him "any assistance the Iraqis may need to deal with the bombings," Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said.

"He also offered his condolences on the bombing this week."

According to Morrell, Gates told Talabani: "The bombings are a tragic reminder it's not over yet. There is still work to be done. This fight has to be carried out on a continuing basis."

Large-scale attacks like the latest claimed by Al-Qaeda are "sort of a desperate attempt to stay relevant and to try to destabilise the government of Iraq" and relaunch sectarian violence, Morrell said.

However, he added that he did not "think anybody believes that it will be successful."

Gates was originally scheduled to meet Maliki as well, but those talks were cancelled because of the premier's parliamentary session.

The Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attacks. Police have charged that the bombers were backed by groups based in Syria or Saudi Arabia.

Lieutenant General Charles Jacoby, the number two US commander in Iraq, warned that Al-Qaeda and other insurgent groups would attempt similar attacks in the run-up to parliamentary elections on March 7.

"The enemies of a democratic Iraq have everything to lose by a successful election," he told reporters.

But an agreed timetable for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq remains "on track," Jacoby added.

Attacks across Iraq dropped dramatically last month, with the official figure of 122 being the lowest number of deaths in monthly attacks recorded since the US-led invasion of 2003.

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US defence secretary vows support on post-bombing Iraq visit
Baghdad (AFP) Dec 10, 2009
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates assured Iraq of continued support during a surprise visit to Baghdad on Thursday, as the Pentagon insisted its troop pullout was on track despite a surge in violence. Gates's visit, following a trip to Afghanistan where Washington is ramping up its military commitment, followed massive bombings that rocked the Iraqi capital and killed 127 people on Tuesday. ... read more







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