PM calls for cabinet reshuffle

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday called for launching a shakeup in his government, urging the different blocs parties to the political process to sustain his efforts in this regard. “I have proposed more than once to have a cabinet reshuffle but this was never approved by partners in the political process,” Maliki said in an address televised by the semi-official al-Iraqiya TV channel. “Now the circumstances are fine to have this reshuffle. I call on the political blocs to cooperate to make this change possible because this change should refresh the government’s efforts and abilities to face challenges,” the Iraqi premier added. Maliki had formed his national unity government on May 20, 2006. The lineup has comprised ministers from the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the Kurdistan Alliance (KA) and the Iraqi National List (INL) as well as the Sadrist Movement of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr and the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front (IAF) before they quit his government. The IAF has returned to the Maliki government, though. AmR (P) 1