Marjaiyah dissatisfied with new govt, UN envoy urges acceptance

By: Hamoud Kufi

BAGHDAD, Iraq: As Marjaiyah Ad-Diniyah (religious Authority) in the holy city of Najaf said it felt incomplete satisfaction from the formation of new government, UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi urged Iraqis Wednesday to accept the country's new interim government while acknowledging a strong American hand in shaping it.

In a statement, the Najaf Marjaiyah expressed its dissatisfaction with the setup of new government because it did not grant the majority (Shiite) their legitimate right in representation whether in number of representatives or in their intellectual and political direction kind.

Iraq’s main political party Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) charged important and popular political figures were excluded.

The 33-member government, announced Tuesday by Brahimi, takes power June 30 and will rule Iraq until new elections due by Jan. 31.

Talking to reporters, Brahimi said: “I sometimes say, I'm sure he doesn't mind me saying that, Bremer is the dictator of Iraq… He has the money. He has the signature. Nothing happens without his agreement in this country.”

The new government may not be perfect but it was the best one possible under the circumstances, the former Algerian foreign minister said.

SCIRI expressed reservations about the “mechanisms of dialogue” used in selecting Cabinet members. SCIRI also complained of the “marginalization and exclusion” of what it called popular political and Islamic personalities.

Brahimi said a committee has been set up to prepare for a national conference that in turn will choose a 100-member Consultative Council, which will oversee the new government. SCIRI also demanded that a consultative council be given legislative rights and absorb those who were excluded from the Cabinet. Brahimi has said the council will be more than an advisory body but not a full legislature.

Meanwhile, Iran’s top national security official Hassan Rowhani said Tehran is “happy” with Iraq's new interim government, hailing what he saw as a “step towards a return to sovereignty”.

Rowhani who heads the Islamic republic's Supreme National Security Council did not elaborate, or say whether Iran would afford the new government its recognition. Iran was among the first of Iraq's neighbors to recognize Iraq's previous US-appointed Interim Governing Council.

Rowhani also voiced his satisfaction over an easing of fighting in the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala between coalition troops and Moqtada Sadr.

“We are happy that the problem of Najaf and Karbala are nearly over. The action of Iraqi Shiite dignitaries, notably the Grand Ayatullah Ali Sistani, have enabled an accord,” he said.

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Iraq interim govt begins work, Bush praises warning violence rise

BAGHDAD, Iraq: Officials announced Iraq’s entire interim government due to take power on June 30 — and the body moved quickly to begin its work after a tribal leader was named president of the country's incoming government Tuesday. The Governing Council decided to dissolve immediately to make way rather than wait until June 30.

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