Iraqi PM announces ministry candidates
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-08 17:32
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday presented his candidates for
the key ministries of defense, interior and national security and asked
parliament to approve them in an effort to end a 20-day impasse.
Image from television
shows Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaking at a news conference
in Baghdad Thursday June 8 2006 at which he announced that Jordanian
terrorism mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who led a bloody campaign of
suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, was killed
late Wednesday in an air raid north of Baghdad.
[AP] |
Al-Maliki has been unable to break a stalemate over the posts since May 20,
when his cabinet was sworn in. The candidates were Iraqi Army Gen. Abdul-Qadre
Mohammed Jassim, a Sunni Arab, for defense minister, and Shiites Jawad al-Bolani
for interior and Sherwan al-Waili for national security.
The posts are considered crucial for al-Maliki's government to implement a
plan allowing Iraqi forces to take over security from the U.S.-led coalition
within 18 months, opening the way for the eventual withdrawal of foreign troops.
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