SaraDinar
03-06-2006, 06:24 PM
Talabani Urged Not to Convene Parliament
By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS, Associated Press Writer March 6, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's president said Monday he would convene the new parliament for the first time next week, beginning a 60-day countdown for lawmakers to elect a new head of state and sign off on a prime minister and Cabinet.
Despite the political squabbling, Talabani had said earlier Monday he would issue a decree calling the new parliament into session on March 12, as required by the constitution, which allows a maximum four weeks between certification of the Dec. 15 vote and the first meeting.
Emerging from a meeting in the Shiite holy city of Najaf with secular Shiite parliamentarian Ahmed Chalabi, al-Sadr said: "All obstacles to forming a national unity government soon will be resolved."
Chalabi, the one-time Pentagon favorite as Iraq's post-Saddam Hussein leader, said al-Jaafari deserved the opportunity to form a government.
"Dr. al-Jaafari should be given a chance. ... It is to the benefit of all parties to keep the (Shiite) Alliance strong and unified," Chalabi said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS, Associated Press Writer March 6, 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's president said Monday he would convene the new parliament for the first time next week, beginning a 60-day countdown for lawmakers to elect a new head of state and sign off on a prime minister and Cabinet.
Despite the political squabbling, Talabani had said earlier Monday he would issue a decree calling the new parliament into session on March 12, as required by the constitution, which allows a maximum four weeks between certification of the Dec. 15 vote and the first meeting.
Emerging from a meeting in the Shiite holy city of Najaf with secular Shiite parliamentarian Ahmed Chalabi, al-Sadr said: "All obstacles to forming a national unity government soon will be resolved."
Chalabi, the one-time Pentagon favorite as Iraq's post-Saddam Hussein leader, said al-Jaafari deserved the opportunity to form a government.
"Dr. al-Jaafari should be given a chance. ... It is to the benefit of all parties to keep the (Shiite) Alliance strong and unified," Chalabi said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq