As looks set to continue as prime minister, security and the occupation remain everyday horrors, writes Nermeen Al-Mufti The United Iraqi Alliance has nominated Ibrahim as prime minister. He is Iraq's current interim prime minister and has been criticised over the deterioration of security and public services in the country. The Kurds have reservations about because of his position on Kirkuk, which he refuses to incorporate into northern Iraq until a public census is conducted. President Jalal Talabani once said that tends to monopolise decision-making. 's nomination came after Hassan Al-Shehrestani and Nadim Al-Jabri withdrew their candidacies for the post. Turkoman parliamentarian Fawzi Akram told Al-Ahram Weekly that, "because of the rivalry between Adel Abdul-Mahdi and , the United Iraqi Alliance decided to put the matter to a vote. In the vote, which took place at the headquarters of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, got 64 votes and Abdul- Mahdi 63 votes... has the support of the Al-Sadr group, a block that has 30 parliamentary seats." Speaking at a news conference after his nomination, said that security would be the first priority for his government, followed by economy, services, and reconstruction. "The coming government should be one of national unity; one that encompasses all the components of the Iraqi people," the prime minister said. He promised that the government would rely heavily on experts and technocrats. The nomination of came about through a democratic vote among the Shias, but will it be acceptable to other parliamentarian blocks? Ammar Al-Ameri is an expert in Iraqi domestic affairs. He said, "since the elections ended, both the Iraqi National Alliance Front of Adnan Al-Duleimi and the block of Iyad Allawi have been saying that the ministries of defence and interior should not be run by people with political and doctrinal allegiances, but by technocrats instead. The fear now is that someone from the United Iraqi Alliance would take one of these two ministries... But one has to admit that is the best available candidate, for he has succeeded in maintaining good ties with most Sunni clans and has been firm on the matter of Kirkuk." Sinan Al-Kobeisi, an independent politician, wants to speak out on foreign presence in the country. "I don't know why is silent on the occupation and the presence of foreign forces in the country... I hope that addresses the matter of security and getting foreign troops out of the cities. The current situation endangers the lives of Iraqis who come under friendly fire or get caught up in attacks on the patrols of foreign forces. should be a prime minister for all Iraqis. His government should seek a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces. It should also tackle the problem of administrative corruption and theft." The day following 's nomination, the trial of Saddam Hussein resumed. The former president and seven of his aides, who had boycotted two sessions, were forcibly brought to court by order of the presiding judge, Raouf Abdul-Rahman. Defence attorneys continue to boycott the court and demand that the current chief judge be replaced. Saddam looked indignant when he entered the court. He railed against "traitors", denounced President Bush, and insulted the judge. Attempts by the judge to bring order to the courtroom failed as Saddam and his brother, Barzan Al-Tikriti, continued to rant and challenge the court's authority. Lawyer Mohamed Al-Omar said that former Judge Rizgar Amin was courteous towards the defendants not because he liked Saddam but because he saw the trial as an attempt to appease the public. Abu Ammar, a former army officer, is sceptical about the trial. "The collective punishment the deposed regime meted out to the inhabitants of Dujail following the attempt on Saddam's life was against law and humanity. But let me tell you this, when a helicopter was downed in Tarmiya three weeks ago, US forces cordoned off the entire area from Tarmiya to Dujail and arrested hundreds of young people. And yet they failed to identify those who shot down the plane. There is a pattern here. Perhaps we should have more trials." Battle of wills: A defiant ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein angrily faces Judge Raouf Abdul-Rahman who took over the court last month. Outbursts by Saddam and his seven co-defendants have frequently overshadowed the testimonies. They are on trial for killing 150 Shia Muslims in Dujail, southern Iraq. The former Iraqi leader spoke with impunity and declared that he was dragged unwillingly to the court of the Iraqi High Tribunal in Baghdad. Saddam and his step-brother Barazani Al-Tekriti interrupted proceedings and said they were going on a hunger strike in protest against their ill-treatment (photo:AP)
