SIIC still reserves on mechanism of Maliki’s nomination for new PM’s post

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A member of the National Alliance, Mohammed Mahdi al-Bayati, on Saturday stated that the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), led by Shiite Cleric Ammar al-Hakim, had not withdrawn from the Council, but “it still has reservations against the mechanism of nominating Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, for a second premiership period. The National Alliance, possessing 159 seats in the new 325-seat parliament, had announced on October 1st Maliki’s nomination for a second premiership. Their announcement ended a 5-month difference on the post, seven months after the end of Iraq’s nationwide elections that took place on March 7th last. With regards to inviting the Sadrist Trend, led by the young Shiite Clergyman, Muqtada al-Sadr, Bayati said, “Our relations with the Sadrist Trend are very strong and built on basic principles. Now the Sadrist Trend exchanges viewpoints with us, and we call upon it to activate the National Alliance‘s principles, if we actively return or non-return to the National Coalition.” The SIIC, he said,. “had not stopped the development of the political process, as he is attending the initiative of Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani, because the Council had demanded the holding of the Round Table, announced by President Barzani,” adding that the Supreme Council would attend the Arbil meeting with full power.” Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani, had announced his initiative to settle the current Iraqi political crisis on Sept. 16, 2010, comprising the formation of of an 8-12 member committee. These would represent different political blocs to being talks, aimed at settling the current suspended differences and discuss the formation of a government of national partnership, as well as the settlement of the issue of the three leading State presidencies, i.e. the posts of the president, the prime minister and the parliament speaker. SKH/SR 1