Iraq parliament session still probable: sources

[SaraDinar]

Iraq parliament session still probable: sources
Mar 7, 2006 — By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's new parliament will almost certainly hold its first session on Sunday despite a request from the powerful Shi'ite Alliance to delay it, the outgoing speaker and other senior officials said on Tuesday.

Some legal sleight of hand might be needed to meet Sunday's constitutional deadline while satisfying the Alliance's request to delay the election of a new speaker, senior political sources said. But the session should go ahead.

Following the Alliance's request to President Jalal Talabani, the head of state would host a meeting of all parties on Thursday, outgoing speaker Hajem al-Hassani told Reuters.

But a delay in the session was all but ruled out because Iraq's supreme legal authority had ruled that March 12 was the constitutional deadline for a first session of parliament.

"There is not the slightest possibility of the session being postponed," said the source, who is not from the Alliance.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1695523

[joanc1963]

Iraq parliament session still probable: sources
Mar 7, 2006 — By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's new parliament will almost certainly hold its first session on Sunday despite a request from the powerful Shi'ite Alliance to delay it, the outgoing speaker and other senior officials said on Tuesday.

Some legal sleight of hand might be needed to meet Sunday's constitutional deadline while satisfying the Alliance's request to delay the election of a new speaker, senior political sources said. But the session should go ahead.

Following the Alliance's request to President Jalal Talabani, the head of state would host a meeting of all parties on Thursday, outgoing speaker Hajem al-Hassani told Reuters.

But a delay in the session was all but ruled out because Iraq's supreme legal authority had ruled that March 12 was the constitutional deadline for a first session of parliament.

"There is not the slightest possibility of the session being postponed," said the source, who is not from the Alliance.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1695523


http://www.kuna.net.kw/home/Story.aspx?Language=en&DSNO=836033

Speaking at a press conference late on Monday with Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Chalabi, Al-Sadr blamed some media outlets of trying to widen the gap between opposers and supporters of Al-Jaafari, the UIA's candidate for prime minister.

"I sat with all parties where we discussed this issue and there was development and understanding and there was a fast and radical solution that would satisfy all sides," he said.

There is great cooperation with the Kurds and problems will be resolved quickly to allow the formation of a united national government, he said.

I remain very optimistic...

[BIG WAVE]

March 7, 2006 -- A senior member of Iraq's ruling Shiite alliance is quoted says his group will ask President Jalal Talabani to postpone the opening of parliament for a few days.


Talabani said on March 6 that he will convene the Iraqi parliament on March 12.

However, Rida Jawad Taqi, a senior member of the Supreme Council For Islamic Revolution In Iraq (SCIRI), said that Shi'ite legislators have decided to ask Talabani for a delay. The request follows a campaign by Sunnis, Kurds, and secular leaders who oppose the nomination of Shi'ite Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Ja'fari for a second term.
http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/3/D2E2FC0B-3BD6-4CC5-A2D3-695BA3565979.html
.....
Doesn't sound like a long delay, but it makes you wonder what the REAL holdup is.....

[BIG WAVE]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's Shiite prime minister declared Tuesday he will not be blackmailed into abandoning his bid for a second term, and the Kurdish president bowed to Shiite pressure to delay calling parliament into session until a deadlock is resolved over who should lead a unity government. A new video broadcast on Arab television, meanwhile, showed three of the four hostage Christian Peacemaker activists. American Tom Fox was not present.
http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Iraq