Iraqi Shi’ite leaders still divided over peace plan

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s dominant Shi’ite leaders appeared divided yesterday over Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s much-touted national reconciliation plan that aims to curb violence by offering amnesty to rebels.

Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the powerful head of parliament’s largest bloc, told AFP he favoured extending an amnesty to insurgents who may have killed US troops – an idea strongly opposed by Maliki. “Yes they should be covered regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations,” Hakim said when asked if he would support extending the reconciliation and amnesty plan to those who may have attacked or killed US-led troops.On the ground, the US military reported that two of its servicemen had been killed in attacks, while nine Iraqis lost their lives in bomb and mortar attacks.Hakim’s comments came a day after the Iraqi government issued a new list of 41 “most wanted” including exiled members of the family of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.His position contradicts the stance of Maliki, who said Wednesday there would be no amnesty for those who killed US troops, foreigners and journalists.Hakim, head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, told AFP however he would oppose any dialogue with “Saddamists and takfeeris,” terms used to refer to Saddam loyalists and extremist Sunni Arab militants who regard the country’s majority Shi’ites as apostates.A wide debate is currently raging in Iraq as to who would be eligible for the amnesty especially as Maliki, also a Shi’ite, has also said that those who have killed Iraqis were not eligible for pardon.A number of MPs have hit out at the reconciliation proposal unveiled by Maliki on June 25, saying it was ambiguous and did not provide enough incentive for rebels to give up arms.The reconciliation plan is aimed at ending the insurgency and sectarian violence that has killed thousands of Iraqis, as well as US and British troops, following the US-led invasion of March 2003 that toppled Saddam.The Iraqi government on Sunday released a list of its 41 most wanted people, including the new local leader of al Qaeda as well as top former regime officials still on the run, as well as Saddam’s first wife and eldest daughter.Jordan said however that Saddam’s daughter Raghad, who lives in the kingdom and was accused by Iraq of being a “significant financial supporter of insurgents,” was under the protection of King Abdullah II.MOST WANTED Sajida, Saddam’s wife, is believed to be in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar.The list was topped by Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, who was number two in Iraq’s Revolution Command Council in Saddam’s regime and the highest ranking official still on the run.It also included Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the successor to slain al Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who was killed in a US air strike last month.”These people are responsible for most of the bombings and indiscriminate killings aimed at hurting the Iraqi people and starting a sectarian war between Sunnis and Shi’ites,” national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said.In violence on the ground, nine Iraqis were killed in two separate attacks in the northern city of Mosul and in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.The US military also reported the death of two of its troops, bringing the death toll since the 2003 invasion to 2 529, according to an AFP count based on Pentagon figures.The country’s fledgling political process was also thrown into new chaos as Sunni Arab lawmakers continued to boycott parliament over the kidnapping of a woman MP on Saturday.- Nampa-AFP”Yes they should be covered regardless of their religious or ethnic affiliations,” Hakim said when asked if he would support extending the reconciliation and amnesty plan to those who may have attacked or killed US-led troops.On the ground, the US military reported that two of its servicemen had been killed in attacks, while nine Iraqis lost their lives in bomb and mortar attacks.Hakim’s comments came a day after the Iraqi government issued a new list of 41 “most wanted” including exiled members of the family of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.His position contradicts the stance of Maliki, who said Wednesday there would be no amnesty for those who killed US troops, foreigners and journalists.Hakim, head of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, told AFP however he would oppose any dialogue with “Saddamists and takfeeris,” terms used to refer to Saddam loyalists and extremist Sunni Arab militants who regard the country’s majority Shi’ites as apostates.A wide debate is currently raging in Iraq as to who would be eligible for the amnesty especially as Maliki, also a Shi’ite, has also said that those who have killed Iraqis were not eligible for pardon.A number of MPs have hit out at the reconciliation proposal unveiled by Maliki on June 25, saying it was ambiguous and did not provide enough incentive for rebels to give up arms.The reconciliation plan is aimed at ending the insurgency and sectarian violence that has killed thousands of Iraqis, as well as US and British troops, following the US-led invasion of March 2003 that toppled Saddam.The Iraqi government on Sunday released a list of its 41 most wanted people, including the new local leader of al Qaeda as well as top former regime officials still on the run, as well as Saddam’s first wife and eldest daughter.Jordan said however that Saddam’s daughter Raghad, who lives in the kingdom and was accused by Iraq of being a “significant financial supporter of insurgents,” was under the protection of King Abdullah II.MOST WANTED Sajida, Saddam’s wife, is believed to be in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar.The list was topped by Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri, who was number two in Iraq’s Revolution Command Council in Saddam’s regime and the highest ranking official still on the run.It also included Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, the successor to slain al Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who was killed in a US air strike last month.”These people are responsible for most of the bombings and indiscriminate killings aimed at hurting the Iraqi people and starting a sectarian war between Sunnis and Shi’ites,” national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said.In violence on the ground, nine Iraqis were killed in two separate attacks in the northern city of Mosul and in Mahmudiyah, south of Baghdad.The US military also reported the death of two of its troops, bringing the death toll since the 2003 invasion to 2 529, according to an AFP count based on Pentagon figures.The country’s fledgling political process was also thrown into new chaos as Sunni Arab lawmakers continued to boycott parliament over the kidnapping of a woman MP on Saturday.- Nampa-AFP