Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Date: 05 October 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_A political solution must be found to the problem of Iraq's
sectarian violence that will lead to militias to "dissolve themselves,"
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday ahead of talks with U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Al-Maliki is under intensified pressure to find an end to the Shiite-Sunni
killings that have torn Iraq apart for months despite the government's calls
for militias _ many of which have ties to parties in the government _ to put
down their arms.
On route to Baghdad on Thursday, Rice underlined that Iraq's leaders "don't
have time for endless debate of these issues. They have really got to move
forward."
"The dissolution of militia must be through the political powers. There is
more than one way leading to a solution, and the militias will dissolve
themselves," al-Maliki told the Associated Press during an "iftar" dinner,
the meal that ends the daily Ramadan fast.
"Militias do not conform with a government. Political parties have militias
and they are part of the government and participate in the political
process. The parties are required to dissolve these militias," he said.
Al-Maliki has frequently called for militias to be dissolved, insisting that
weapons must only be in the hands of national security forces. But Sunni
leaders have accused the government of balking at moving forcefully against
Shiite militias blamed in much of the violence because of their links to
Shiite political parties.
Byline: By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
Date: 05 October 2006
BAGHDAD, Iraq_A political solution must be found to the problem of Iraq's
sectarian violence that will lead to militias to "dissolve themselves,"
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday ahead of talks with U.S.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Al-Maliki is under intensified pressure to find an end to the Shiite-Sunni
killings that have torn Iraq apart for months despite the government's calls
for militias _ many of which have ties to parties in the government _ to put
down their arms.
On route to Baghdad on Thursday, Rice underlined that Iraq's leaders "don't
have time for endless debate of these issues. They have really got to move
forward."
"The dissolution of militia must be through the political powers. There is
more than one way leading to a solution, and the militias will dissolve
themselves," al-Maliki told the Associated Press during an "iftar" dinner,
the meal that ends the daily Ramadan fast.
"Militias do not conform with a government. Political parties have militias
and they are part of the government and participate in the political
process. The parties are required to dissolve these militias," he said.
Al-Maliki has frequently called for militias to be dissolved, insisting that
weapons must only be in the hands of national security forces. But Sunni
leaders have accused the government of balking at moving forcefully against
Shiite militias blamed in much of the violence because of their links to
Shiite political parties.