iya may return to Parliament sessions – Al-Ahrar Bloc

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Al-Iraqiya Bloc,  led by Iyad Allawi, shall attend the Iraqi Parliament and Government sessions if the problem involving its leading member, Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, is resolved, according to a statement  made by the Chairman of al-Ahrar (Liberals) Bloc Bahaa al-Aaraji on Tuesday. Aaraji said in his statement, as was received by IraqiNews.com news agency, that his Bloc has conferred with al-Iraqiya Bloc‘s leading members, (Finance Minister) Rafi’a al-Issawi and Salman al-Jumeily, who promised that their Bloc would discuss its return attendance of the Parliament’s sessions on Thursday, adding that “the issue of Vice-President, Tariq al-Hashimi, is a judicial case that will not enter the current political negotiations”. “Al-Iraqiya Bloc has demanded the settlement of the problem of Saleh al-Mutlaq,” Aaraji said. “In al-Ahrar Bloc, we have kept our contacts with Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, his National Alliance and al-Iraqiya Bloc, and found out that Mutlaq’s issue can be settled through an understanding between the Prime Minister, his Deputy Prime Minister, Mutlaq and al-Iraqiya Bloc,” he noted. “Al-Ahrar Bloc can play the role of mediator and continue its efforts to achieve satisfactory results among the political blocs,” Aaraji said. Earlier news was announced that al-Iraqiya Bloc‘s leader and Iraqi Vice President, Tariq al-Hashimi’s bodyguards were planning to present new testimony involving charges of terrorism leveled against the VP.