Vol. 71/No. 31 September 3, 2007
Iraqi prime minister Nouri Kamal al-Maliki announced plans August 12 to meet with leaders of Iraq's major political parties. Al-Maliki seeks to resume efforts to pass a package of "reconciliation" laws that could form a governing arrangement between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraqs capitalist class.
Since March, U.S. officials have held a series of talks with their Iranian and Iraqi counterparts. The talks led to a "working group" on Iraqi security, but U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the talks have not yielded "positive results." Washington has maintained a hostile policy toward Iran. It accuses that government of providing funds, more lethal weapons, and training to Shiite militias in Iraq.
Al-Maliki called for expanded ties between his government and Iran during an August 8 visit with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Tehran. That prompted U.S. president George Bush to say he would have a "heart-to-heart" with al-Maliki.
Washington is also boosting its ties with the Gulf Cooperation CouncilSaudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Qataras a counter to Iran. The Saudi monarchy established the council in 1981 in response to the 1979 revolution in Iran, which overthrew the U.S.-backed shah.
In July, the Bush administration announced plans to give billions of dollars in new military aid to allies in the Middle East.
U.S. officials have pressed al-Maliki to get legislation through the Iraqi parliament that will assure wealthy Sunniswho had a privileged position under the Hussein regimea stake in the government. That prospect appears slim for now as al-Maliki's government has faced a rash of resignations by cabinet members. Six from the largest Sunni bloc in parliament left the cabinet August 1. This was followed by a boycott by five cabinet members loyal to former prime minister Iyad Allawi. Six other seats, allotted to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc, remain empty because parliament has not approved replacements.
Following the Security Council vote, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said the United Nations "cannot shy away" from its responsibility in Iraq because of the violence, the UN News Service reported. The UN staff in Iraq was reduced in October 2003 after bombings at their headquarters in Baghdad and a number of attacks on UN personnel.
U.S. military spokespeople said August 8 that 32 members of the Mahdi Army, al-Sadrs militia, were killed in fighting in Sadr City, a mostly Shiite district of Baghdad. Three days later, the U.S. military reported 33 al-Qaeda supporters were killed in operations in Diyala.
The U.S. military announced a new offensive August 13 against al-Qaeda and Shiite militias. A growing number of Sunni militias have joined the U.S.-led military effort.
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