Iraq’s PM Maliki, former PM Allawi, discuss security ministries in meeting Friday:

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, and former Prime Minister and Leader of al-Iraqiya Coalition, Iyad Allawi, has discussed in their meeting in Baghdad on Friday, attended by the Leader of the National Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaaafari, the issue of the security ministries, expected to be raised at the end of this week. “Discussions and dialogues are continuing regarding the security ministries (Interior, Defense and National Security Ministries), the issue that was discussed in the meeting of Maliki and Allawi, attended by Jaafari” the National Alliance Legislature, Abed Abbas Hmoud Salem told IraqiNews.com news agency. “The finalt decision to chose the security ministers is in the hands of Maliki, even if any other bloc insisted to select any candidate for any of the security cabinet posts,” Salem said. As regards to the National Council for Strategic Policies (NCSP), Salem said “it is expected that the draft-law would be presented to the Parliament this week, following the close agreement on same by al-Iraqiya and the National Coalitions.” Noteworthy is that differences have taken place regarding the nomination of security ministries candidates, with al-Iraqiya Coaliltion insisting on its candidate Falah al-Naqib for the Defense Minister’s post, whilst Maliki had rejected that, at a time when differences continued regarding some of the articles of the proposed NCSP draft-law. The Iraqi Parliament had granted trust to the new Iraqi cabinet, led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on 21/12/2010, following about 9 months of serious discussions that took place after Iraq’s March 7th nationwide elections. The new cabinet comprises 42 ministries, including 12 state ministries, whilst Maliki had kept the adminstration of the Interiior, Defense and Security Ministries for himself, on “acting” basis, whilst he assigned a number of cabinet posts for other personalities, also on “acting” basis, pending the naming of their ministers. MRT (A) / SKH 43