http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/iraqipm/ en-us Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:20:45 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997373/posts BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's faltering crackdown on Shiite militants has won the backing of Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties that fear both the powerful sectarian militias and the effects of failure on Iraq's fragile government. The emergence of a common cause could help bridge Iraq's political rifts. The head of the Kurdish self-ruled region, Massoud Barzani, has offered Kurdish troops to help fight anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia. More significantly, Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi signed off on a statement by President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and the Shiite vice president, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, expressing support... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1997373/posts#comment Sun, 6 Apr 2008 00:20:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993058/posts Baghdad, 28 March (AKI) - Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has reportedly extended the 72-hour deadline for Shia militiamen fighting security forces in the southern city of Basra, to hand over their weapons. The Iraqi prime minister had originally set a deadline of 29 March for the militias to give up their arms but on Friday he extended it until 8 April. Fighting is continuing between Shia militias and Iraqi security forces and reports say that more than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on the militias began in the oil-rich city on Tuesday. Some... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1993058/posts#comment Fri, 28 Mar 2008 13:20:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982225/posts Iraq PM wants two other Saddam-era officials executed with Chemical AliBy SAMEER N. YACOUB and ANNA JOHNSON/Associated Press Thursday, March 6, 2008 12:06 AM CST Saddam Hussein's cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as 'Chemical Ali,' for his alleged use of chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds, listens to prosecution evidence during the Operation Anfal trial, in Baghdad, Iraq, in this, Jan. 8, 2007, file photo. The Iraqi government is refusing to execute the Saddam Hussein henchman and cousin known as 'Chemical Ali' unless the executions of two other Saddam associates also are approved. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, Pool) BAGHDAD - The Iraqi... Mohave Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1982225/posts#comment Fri, 7 Mar 2008 23:59:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923075/posts Released detainees sit to hear words of encouragement from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during todayÂ’s detainee release ceremony at Camp Liberty. Nearly 500 men were released after the Combined Review and Release Board determined they are no longer a threat to Iraqi or Coalition forces, or the security of Iraq. Photo by Maj. Elizabeth Robbins, Multi-National Force-Iraq Public Affairs. CAMP LIBERTY — A detainee release ceremony here today at Forward Operating Base Constitution highlighted the expanded capacity of the Government of Iraq and Multi-National Force-Iraq to release detainees from Coalition Force custody. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki oversaw the... Multi-National Force - Iraq http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1923075/posts#comment Thu, 8 Nov 2007 23:52:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890178/posts BAGHDAD - Iraq's beleaguered prime minister accused his American critics on Sunday of underestimating how hard it is to rebuild his country and failing to appreciate his government's achievements "such as stopping the civil and sectarian war." Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said told reporters that some of the criticism from Washington sends "signals to terrorists luring them into thinking that the security situation in the country is not good." He offered no specific examples. He also said U.S. critics may not know "the size of the destruction that Iraq passed through" and do not appreciate "the big role of the... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1890178/posts#comment Sun, 2 Sep 2007 15:31:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888430/posts Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki made a serious step towards national unity at a time when Paris and Washington showered him with criticism. At a news conference in Baghdad on August 26, he announced that at a joint meeting representatives of the Iraqi Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds had reached agreement on a number of issues, which were crucial for the restoration of political stability, such as amnesty of political prisoners, elections to local and provincial governments, a bill on redistribution of oil profits and, last but not the least, abolition of the ban on jobs for the former Baath party... www.spacewar.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888430/posts#comment Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:30:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1887273/posts Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki lashed out yesterday at US lawmakers who have called on him to step down, and accused American forces of committing "big mistakes" in killing and detaining Iraqi civilians in the hunt for insurgents. Alerts The embattled leader has come under fire from an array of allies and adversaries who say he has failed to unite his Cabinet and put crucial laws and programs in place. Yesterday he drew fresh criticism from two influential congressional Republicans. Maliki aimed his angriest words at Democratic senators Hillary Clinton of New York and Carl Levin of Michigan. "There are American... boston.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1887273/posts#comment Mon, 27 Aug 2007 17:44:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886967/posts France calls for new Iraq prime minister By Peter Allen in Paris Last Updated: 1:16am BST 27/08/2007 France's foreign minister risked fracturing his country's new relationship with America yesterday, by calling for Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, to be replaced. Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister In an interview published in the American magazine Newsweek, Bernard Kouchner, who visited Baghdad last week, said: "I just had (Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State) on the phone 10 or 15 minutes ago, and I told her, 'Listen, he's got to be replaced'. "Many people believe the prime minister ought to... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886967/posts#comment Mon, 27 Aug 2007 00:49:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886770/posts BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki hit back on Sunday at Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton and other U.S. critics who have called for him to be replaced, telling them "to come to their senses." Maliki is under mounting pressure from officials in Washington to show political progress towards reconciling his majority Shi'ite Muslim sect and minority Sunni Arabs. U.S. officials are frustrated by the negligible progress so far. Clinton and fellow Democratic Senator Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, have called for Maliki to be voted out because of his failure to find a... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1886770/posts#comment Sun, 26 Aug 2007 15:17:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885975/posts CRAWFORD, Texas (CNN) -- A powerhouse Republican lobbying firm with close ties to the White House has begun a public campaign to undermine the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, CNN has confirmed. A report by the U.S. intelligence community questions Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's ability to govern. This comes as President Bush is publicly taking great pains to reiterate his support for the embattled Iraqi leader. Al-Maliki's government has come under sharp criticism and scrutiny from Washington lawmakers and officials, as reflected in Thursday's National Intelligence Estimate. A senior Bush administration official told CNN the White House... CNN.Com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885975/posts#comment Fri, 24 Aug 2007 15:36:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885114/posts KANSAS CITY, Mo. — President Bush, scrambling to show he has not abandoned Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, offered a fresh endorsement today. "Prime Minister Maliki's a good guy, good man with a difficult job and I support him," Bush said in a speech to military veterans. "And it's not up to the politicians in Washington, D.C., to say whether he will remain in his position," Bush said. "It is up to the Iraqi people who now live in a democracy and not a dictatorship." The president's comment was intended to dispel the impression he left on Tuesday that he... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885114/posts#comment Thu, 23 Aug 2007 00:30:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884998/posts Earlier today, the Italian news service AKI reported that the presumed leader of the largest insurgency in Iraq will start cooperating with the Iraqi government. Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, one of the highest-ranking members of Saddam Hussein's government, reportedly pledged to work with Iraqi and American forces to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq: The leader of Iraq's banned Baath party, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has decided to join efforts by the Iraqi authorities to fight al-Qaeda, one of the party's former top officials, Abu Wisam al-Jashaami, told pan-Arab daily Al Hayat. "AlDouri has decided to sever ties with al-Qaeda and sign up to... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884998/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:59:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884945/posts DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq's prime minister lashed out Wednesday at U.S. criticism, saying no one has the right to impose timetables on his elected government and that his country "can find friends elsewhere." Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed the U.S. presidential campaign for the recent tough words about his government, from President Bush and from other U.S. politicians. Bush on Tuesday said he was frustrated with Iraqi leaders' inability to bridge political divisions. But he added that only the Iraqi people can decide whether to sideline al-Maliki. "Clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more," Bush said. "I think... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884945/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 19:15:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884497/posts George Bush hints Iraqi PM must go By Alex Spillius in Washington Last Updated: 10:27pm BST 21/08/2007 President George W Bush yesterday signalled that his patience with the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki had run out, suggesting that he should be voted from office before the country's security deteriorates further. Speaking at a trade summit in Canada, Mr Bush said: "There's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general. "The fundamental question is, will the government respond to the demands of the people? And if the government doesn't respond to the demands of the people, they will replace... The Telegraph (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884497/posts#comment Tue, 21 Aug 2007 22:31:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884601/posts Iraq: One of the loudest Iraq War critics, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, reports "tangible results" from the surge. Then he jeopardizes Iraq's future by calling for the prime minister's head. "I hope the parliament will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and more unifying prime minister and government," Levin said after three days in Iraq and Jordan with the armed services panel's ranking Republican, Sen. John Warner. First, consider how much arrogance it takes to tell a fledgling democracy who should — and shouldn't... IBD http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884601/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 02:11:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884779/posts "No one has the right to place timetables on the Iraq government. It was elected by its people," he said at a news conference in Damascus at the end of a three-day visit to Syria. "Those who make such statements are bothered by our visit to Syria. We will pay no attention. We care for our people and our constitution and can find friends elsewhere," Mr. al-Maliki said. The New York Sun http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884779/posts#comment Wed, 22 Aug 2007 13:50:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884257/posts WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 — The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, after completing a two-day tour of Iraq, said Monday that the government of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki should be voted from office because it has proved incapable of reaching the political compromises required to end violence there. Skip to next paragraph The Reach of War Go to Complete Coverage » The Democratic chairman, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, and the committee’s ranking Republican, Senator John W. Warner of Virginia, who traveled to Iraq together, issued a joint statement that was only slightly more temperate than Mr. Levin’s... The New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1884257/posts#comment Tue, 21 Aug 2007 13:41:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881922/posts The Iraqi prime minister and president on Thursday announced a new alliance of moderate Shiites and Kurds, saying Sunni moderates refused to join but the door remained open to them. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said the agreement was the first step to unblock political stagnation that has gripped his Shiite-led government since it first took power in May 2006. The announcement after three days of intense political negotiations in the capital was disappointing because it did not include Iraq's Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi and his moderate Iraqi Islamic Party. President Jalal Talabani and al-Maliki were flanked by the leader... Forbes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1881922/posts#comment Thu, 16 Aug 2007 09:54:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1880259/posts Baghdad, Aug 12, (VOI)- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Sunday for a summit meeting by political leaders during the two upcoming days. "The internal political problems the country is suffering from, have forced me to make a call for the Iraqi political leaders to meet in a summit during the next two days," Maliki told a news conference in Baghdad. The Prime Minister added "the aim behind the summit is to address basic topics arisen in the Iraqi political arena as well as considering the political program and the strategic problems facing the government." "The meeting is to... iraqslogger http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1880259/posts#comment Mon, 13 Aug 2007 00:21:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1877913/posts As Iraqis queue miserably for food and water, or swelter in homes and hospitals without electricity, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition government is collapsing around him. The latest boycott -- by four ministers from a non-sectarian party -- brought to 17 the number of members of the Shiite-led coalition to have walked out, tendered their resignations or withdrawn from cabinet meetings. Hopes that the so-called national unity coalition can be saved now depend on the senior leadership of the rival parties cutting a new power-sharing deal that can convince the bitter Sunni minority to return to the fold. But Maliki... IC Publications http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1877913/posts#comment Wed, 8 Aug 2007 01:53:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1877917/posts Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will go to Iran today where he will hold talks on August 8 with Iranian officials on economic and political cooperation. The two countries have greatly expanded bilateral relations following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. RFE/RL Iraq analyst Kathleen Ridolfo discusses what al-Maliki hopes to achieve. RFE/RL: What is the purpose of al-Maliki's visit to Iran? Kathleen Ridolfo: This is al-Maliki's second visit to Iran since he took office and it comes within the context of bettering political relations and economic relations and -- of course more importantly -- securing relations between Iran and... RFE/RL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1877917/posts#comment Wed, 8 Aug 2007 01:59:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1874120/posts 31 minutes ago BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces a revolt within his party by factions that want him out as Iraqi leader, according to officials in his office and the political party he leads. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, al-Maliki's predecessor, leads the challenge and already has approached leaders of the country's two main Kurdish parties, parliament's two Sunni Arab blocs and lawmakers loyal to powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Jaafari's campaign, the officials said, was based on his concerns that al-Maliki's policies had led Iraq into turmoil because the prime minister was doing too little to promote national reconciliation. The... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1874120/posts#comment Tue, 31 Jul 2007 11:07:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873124/posts BAGHDAD (AP) - A key aide says Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's relations with Gen. David Petraeus are so poor the Iraqi leader may ask Washington to withdraw the overall U.S. commander from his Baghdad post. Iraq's foreign minister calls the relationship ``difficult.'' Petraeus, who says their ties are ``very good,'' acknowledges expressing his ``full range of emotions'' at times with al-Maliki. U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who meets with both at least weekly, concedes ``sometimes there are sporty exchanges.'' It seems less a clash of personality than of policy. The Shiite Muslim prime minister has reacted most sharply to the American... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1873124/posts#comment Sun, 29 Jul 2007 01:35:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698910/posts TEHRAN, Iran - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has postponed his first official visit to Tehran for "technical reasons," officials said Sunday. Al-Maliki was supposed to visit Iran Monday. It was unclear how long his trip would be delayed. Iraq's ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh, and Ali al-Adeeb, a legislator and senior member with al-Maliki's Dawa party, confirmed that the trip had been postponed, with both citing "technical reasons." They did not elaborate. Meanwhile, iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency quoted unidentified Foreign Ministry officials as saying that talks were still under way with Iraqi officials to set a... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1698910/posts#comment Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:02:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694560/posts BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric on Saturday warned the prime minister to quell violence or risk "other powers" filling the gap, while police found the tortured and blindfolded bodies of 13 Pakistani and Indian pilgrims and their Iraqi driver. At least 15 violent deaths were reported elsewhere in Iraq, while the government announced it had formally taken over the notorious Abu Ghraib prison from coalition authorities. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf, 100 miles south of Baghdad, the cleric's office said. In July, al-Sistani was credited with restraining the Shiite community... AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1694560/posts#comment Sat, 2 Sep 2006 22:28:09 GMT