Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Iraqi president asks insurgents to lay down arms and join the political process
By SALAH NASRAWI - Associated Press Writer
CAIRO, Egypt - (AP) Iraq's president said during a
reconciliation conference Sunday he was ready for talks with anti-government
opposition figures and members of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party, and
he called on the Sunni-led insurgency to lay down its arms and join the
political process.
But President Jalal Talabani, in Cairo for the U.S-backed and Arab
League-sponsored conference, insisted that the Iraqi government would not
meet with Baath Party members who are participating in the Sunni-led
insurgency and attacking Iraqi and U.S.-led forces in the country.
"I am the president of Iraq and I am responsible for all Iraqis. If
those who describe themselves as Iraqi resistance want to contact me, they
are welcome," Talabani told reporters. "I want to listen to all Iraqis. I am
committed to listen to them, even those who are criminals and are on trial."
Talabani's remarks came amid reports that he had already met with
representatives of the former regime in Cairo. They also appeared to catch
some Shiite delegates by surprise.
"This is a unilateral move which has not coordinated with us," said
one Shiite leader, who declined to be identified by name, fearing political
repercussions.
The London-based Al Hayat newspaper reported Sunday that Talabani
had received proposals from insurgent groups and that their "conditions"
were being reviewed in coordination with the Pentagon and American officials
at the Cairo conference. Talabani did not comment on the report.
"Those who carry guns should come back to their senses, there is no
reason to hold arms," he said.
The three-day meeting in Cairo opened Saturday under the auspices of
the Arab League in an attempt to patch over ethnic and religious fault lines
and address the contentious issue of who would participate in a larger
reconciliation conference planned for January.
Leaders of Iraq's Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish communities are
struggling with serious differences over power sharing, the 30 month
insurgency and the future of the U.S. troops in Iraq.
Sunni leaders, who were dominant under the Saddam regime, are
pressing ahead with demands that the Shiite-majority government should agree
to a time table for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and broad
amendments to the constitution which was ratified on Oct. 15.
They also want recognition for resistance forces and the
reconstitution of Saddam's army in order to bring back former regime
officers.
Shiites have been skeptical of the conference from the start and
strongly opposed participation by Sunni Arab officials from the former
Saddam regime or from pro-insurgency groups.
The conference nearly collapsed on its first day when Shiite and
Kurdish delegates stormed out of the closed session, infuriated when a
speaker said they had sold out to the Americans.
Later they were persuaded by Saudi foreign minister Prince Saudi Al
Faisal to return after an apology, but the walkout highlighted the sectarian
and political divisions at the all-party gathering, which was boycotted by
some key leaders of Iraq's Shiite and Sunni communities.
As delegates continued talks Sunday, they agreed to form a committee
to work out an agenda for the January meeting. Alaa Rushdi, a spokesman for
the League, said Secretary-General Amr Moussa and Arab foreign ministers
were trying to bridge the deep gaps separating the parties.
By SALAH NASRAWI - Associated Press Writer
CAIRO, Egypt - (AP) Iraq's president said during a
reconciliation conference Sunday he was ready for talks with anti-government
opposition figures and members of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party, and
he called on the Sunni-led insurgency to lay down its arms and join the
political process.
But President Jalal Talabani, in Cairo for the U.S-backed and Arab
League-sponsored conference, insisted that the Iraqi government would not
meet with Baath Party members who are participating in the Sunni-led
insurgency and attacking Iraqi and U.S.-led forces in the country.
"I am the president of Iraq and I am responsible for all Iraqis. If
those who describe themselves as Iraqi resistance want to contact me, they
are welcome," Talabani told reporters. "I want to listen to all Iraqis. I am
committed to listen to them, even those who are criminals and are on trial."
Talabani's remarks came amid reports that he had already met with
representatives of the former regime in Cairo. They also appeared to catch
some Shiite delegates by surprise.
"This is a unilateral move which has not coordinated with us," said
one Shiite leader, who declined to be identified by name, fearing political
repercussions.
The London-based Al Hayat newspaper reported Sunday that Talabani
had received proposals from insurgent groups and that their "conditions"
were being reviewed in coordination with the Pentagon and American officials
at the Cairo conference. Talabani did not comment on the report.
"Those who carry guns should come back to their senses, there is no
reason to hold arms," he said.
The three-day meeting in Cairo opened Saturday under the auspices of
the Arab League in an attempt to patch over ethnic and religious fault lines
and address the contentious issue of who would participate in a larger
reconciliation conference planned for January.
Leaders of Iraq's Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish communities are
struggling with serious differences over power sharing, the 30 month
insurgency and the future of the U.S. troops in Iraq.
Sunni leaders, who were dominant under the Saddam regime, are
pressing ahead with demands that the Shiite-majority government should agree
to a time table for the withdrawal of all foreign troops and broad
amendments to the constitution which was ratified on Oct. 15.
They also want recognition for resistance forces and the
reconstitution of Saddam's army in order to bring back former regime
officers.
Shiites have been skeptical of the conference from the start and
strongly opposed participation by Sunni Arab officials from the former
Saddam regime or from pro-insurgency groups.
The conference nearly collapsed on its first day when Shiite and
Kurdish delegates stormed out of the closed session, infuriated when a
speaker said they had sold out to the Americans.
Later they were persuaded by Saudi foreign minister Prince Saudi Al
Faisal to return after an apology, but the walkout highlighted the sectarian
and political divisions at the all-party gathering, which was boycotted by
some key leaders of Iraq's Shiite and Sunni communities.
As delegates continued talks Sunday, they agreed to form a committee
to work out an agenda for the January meeting. Alaa Rushdi, a spokesman for
the League, said Secretary-General Amr Moussa and Arab foreign ministers
were trying to bridge the deep gaps separating the parties.
