Urgent – Talabani: Number of signatures not sufficient to topple Maliki

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The President Jalal Talabani assured that the number of the MPs who have signed a request to withdraw confidence from the Premier Nouri al-Maliki reached only 160 MPs which is less than the required number limited by 163.

A statement by Talabani’s office cited on Saturday night “In order to inform the Iraqi People about the latest political developments related to the current political crisis and in order to clarify the commitment of the President Jalal Talabani towards the rules of the constitution, we would like to announce that the President Talabani promised to submit a request to the Parliament to withdraw confidence from Maliki if they collect 163 votes as a step to settle the crisis.”

“On the other hand, the President Talabani formed a committee to verify the validity of the signatures submitted by the Iraqiya Slate, Kurdistani Alliance and Ahrar Bloc in addition to independent MPs,” the statement added, noting that “11 MPs have informed the President to withdraw their signatures in addition to two other MPs who asked to suspend their signatures which keeps the number of signatures available less than the legal required number.”

The statement mentioned that “The President Talabani reiterates his calls for holding the National Meeting and limit the disputes by the constitutional and diplomatic frames.”