Iran foils parliamentary meeting as government on brink of collapse

 

By Hussain Maddloum

 

Azzaman, July 26, 2007

 

An important meeting bringing together leaders of parliamentary blocs to address the current political crisis and find ways to halt security deterioration has failed to materialize.

 

The meeting was meant to reconcile the disparate factions in the parliament following the decision by the largest Sunni group to suspend its participation in the government.

 

Informed Iraqi sources said last minute meddling by Iran prevented leading Iraqi politicians from meeting. Iran is reported to have insisted on the exclusion of former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a vociferous critic of growing Iranian influence in Baghdad.

 

Allawi is a Shiite but his Iraqi National List Party is secular and moderate and includes members from across the country’s diverse sects, religions and nationalities.

 

The list has 24 deputies in the parliament but Allawi is said to be spearheading efforts to form a new ‘moderate’ front that he hopes will include the disgruntled and anti-Iran Sunnis.

 

The Sunnis have suspended the participation of their six ministers in the pro-Iran Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government.

 

Allawi’s party has five ministers in the government and the move by Iran to exclude him from the meeting, analysts say, is likely to force him to reconsider his participation in the cabinet.

 

Already 12 ministers are boycotting the government. Maliki will face tough times if Allawi decides to withdraw.

 

The Sunnis have set several conditions to return to the government. Among other things they have demanded the release of all detainees who have not been convicted, the restoration of Iraq’s character as an Arab state and the formation of a high command for the armed forces.

 

They also want major political and economic reforms to give them more say in the running of the country’s affairs.