US senators suggest Maliki government be replaced
Wednesday, 22 August 2007
WASHINGTON, Aug 20 (AFP): Two key US senators suggested Monday that Iraq's parliament replace Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki's government if it fails in a "last chance" political reconciliation bid.
Senators Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Warner, the ranking Republican, said after a two-day visit to Iraq that they were not optimistic about the prospects for compromise.
"We believe that the recent high-level meetings among Iraqi political leaders could be the last chance for this government to solve the Iraqi political crisis," they said in a joint statement.
"And should it fail, we believe, the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Iraqi people need to judge the government of Iraq's record and determine what actions should be taken-consistent with the Iraqi Constitution-to form a true unity government to meet those responsibilities.
In a teleconference with reporters, Levin said Iraqi leaders had failed to meet their own political benchmarks on sharing power and resources, modifying de-Baathification laws, scheduling provincial elections, or amending the constitution.
"So I hope that the Iraqi assembly, when it reconvenes in a few weeks, will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and a more unifying prime minister and government," he said.
A spokesman for US President George W. Bush, who was in Canada at a summit of North American leaders, said the White House was confident that Maliki's government would overcome obstacles to political reconciliation.
"We believe that Prime Minister Maliki and the Presidency Council will be able to get this important work done, work that is being done on the local level where we see bottom-up reconciliation taking hold," said national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"Iraqi leaders are meeting now to reach a political accommodation among the various parties. We urge them to come together, reach agreements and show the Iraqi people and the rest of the world their determination to create a stable and prosperous Iraq," he said.
Senators Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and John Warner, the ranking Republican, said after a two-day visit to Iraq that they were not optimistic about the prospects for compromise.
"We believe that the recent high-level meetings among Iraqi political leaders could be the last chance for this government to solve the Iraqi political crisis," they said in a joint statement.
"And should it fail, we believe, the Iraqi Council of Representatives and the Iraqi people need to judge the government of Iraq's record and determine what actions should be taken-consistent with the Iraqi Constitution-to form a true unity government to meet those responsibilities.
In a teleconference with reporters, Levin said Iraqi leaders had failed to meet their own political benchmarks on sharing power and resources, modifying de-Baathification laws, scheduling provincial elections, or amending the constitution.
"So I hope that the Iraqi assembly, when it reconvenes in a few weeks, will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and a more unifying prime minister and government," he said.
A spokesman for US President George W. Bush, who was in Canada at a summit of North American leaders, said the White House was confident that Maliki's government would overcome obstacles to political reconciliation.
"We believe that Prime Minister Maliki and the Presidency Council will be able to get this important work done, work that is being done on the local level where we see bottom-up reconciliation taking hold," said national security council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"Iraqi leaders are meeting now to reach a political accommodation among the various parties. We urge them to come together, reach agreements and show the Iraqi people and the rest of the world their determination to create a stable and prosperous Iraq," he said.