Cabinet reshuffle to fill vacant ministries- lawmaker

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) leader on Monday said that the cabinet reshuffle proposed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki aims to fill vacant ministerial posts, including the ministries of agriculture and women, as well as the ministry of trade if a vote of no confidence is held against its minister. On Friday (May 22), Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for launching a shakeup in his government, urging all participants in the political process to sustain his efforts in this regard. “A parliamentary vote is needed to appoint a minister, which will require the prime minister to negotiate with other blocs…,” Ali al-Adeeb told IraqiNews.com news agency. Maliki formed his national unity government on May 20, 2006. The lineup has comprised ministers from the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the 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. The Iraqi minister of state for women’s affairs, Nawal al-Samarraie, resigned from her position in February 2009; while the minister of agriculture, Ali al-Bahadili, tendered his resignation in April 2009. SS (P) 1