Iraq Sunni Bloc Maintains Opposition To Al-Ja'fari

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari (file photo) (epa) April 10, 2006 -- Iraq's biggest Sunni bloc says it has made a definitive decision to reject Ibrahim al-Ja'fari as a candidate for prime minister in a new unity government.

Dhafir al-Ani, a spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, said the bloc has informed Iraq's main Shi'ite alliance of its decision to reject al-Ja'fari.


The Kurdish alliance has also made a definitive decision to reject al-Ja'fari.


The Shi'ite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) is due to hold internal talks on April 10 and to consult with Kurdish and Sunni parties on the al-Ja'fari issue, which has deadlocked the formation of a government of national unity. It is now four months since parliamentary elections.


A three-member Shi'ite committee has been formed to discuss the impasse.


Sunnis and Kurds blame al-Ja'fari for doing little to end sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shi'a.


(compiled from agency reports)

Sectarian Iraq

Sectarian Iraq

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SUNNI, SHI'A: Iraq is riven along sectarian lines, faults that frequently produce violent clashes and are a constant source of tension. Sectarian concerns drive much of Iraqi politics and are the main threat to the country's fragile security environment.


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