Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Iraq''s Maliki rejects rival''s call for intervention
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 01 - 05 - 2010

Baghdad--Iraq's prime minister on Friday criticized his main rival in last month's inconclusive election for wanting outside intervention, and denounced what he said was the foreign powers' desire to stage a ballot box coup.
Nuri al-Maliki's angry words added to a political crisis stirred up by attempts by Shia-led groups, including the premier's bloc, to overturn a slim lead in a March 7 vote posted by a cross-sectarian alliance that won strong Sunni support.
The Sunni-backed list led by secular ex-premier Iyad Allawi called this week for an internationally monitored caretaker government after its two-seat election lead was threatened by a recount of votes in Baghdad and a bid to disqualify candidates.
Allawi's Iraqiya alliance accused Maliki's Shia-led government of trying to marginalize it and said the international community should organize a new election.
The political tensions and impasse after the election have left Iraq's fragile stability vulnerable to attacks by insurgents. Bombs against checkpoints, a liquor shop and in Shia areas of Baghdad have killed dozens in the past week.
Maliki said on Friday that Iraqiya's stance would harm Iraq's sovereignty.
"This makes it clear that there is a regional and international project that wanted to stage a coup through the ballot box. Why else would there be all this complaining and weeping in the world over the recount issue?" Maliki said in the Shia holy city of Kerbala.
Many Iraqis were hoping that last month's parliamentary election would help stabilize their war-damaged country and help it move ahead with rebuilding after years of war and sectarian bloodshed unleashed after the 2003 US-led invasion.
But the vote has instead left the country adrift in uncertainty with Shia-led, Sunni-backed and Kurdish factions jostling for the upper hand in the government coalition talks.
Maliki's State of Law coalition won two seats fewer than Allawi's alliance in the next 325-seat parliament. Alleging fraud, Maliki's bloc successfully sought a recount of 2.5 million votes in Baghdad that could overturn Iraqiya's lead.
Rubbing salt into Iraqiya's wounds, a Shia-led commission whose aim is to prevent followers of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party from returning to power is challenging votes cast for candidates with alleged Baathists links, most from Iraqiya.
A review panel last Monday discarded the votes of 52 candidates and another ruling is expected next week that could cost Iraqiya a seat or two, depriving it of a chance to try to form the next government.
Iraqiya's leaders, including Allawi, have been touring neighboring countries to drum up support from regional powers. Allawi met with both the Turkish and Egyptian presidents.
"Look at those delegations that move between countries asking (them) to interfere in a national issue that nobody should interfere in," Maliki said.
"Some try to tempt us and say 'let go of the recount demand and we will give you this or that' and some tell us 'we swear, we will hit the Green Zone with rockets if the recount process continued," he said, referring to the heavily fortified government and diplomatic enclave in Baghdad.
"I tell everybody, respect the will and sovereignty of Iraq," Maliki said.
If a recount in Baghdad, set to start on Monday, reverses Iraqiya's lead, it would anger Sunnis. Himself a secular Shia, Allawi is viewed as a frontman for Sunni interests by Shias and as a defender of their rights by Sunnis.
A backlash by Sunnis, who have felt marginalized since losing the clout they enjoyed under Saddam, could reopen old sectarian wounds and tip the country back into widespread conflict, just as violence starts to subside.


Clic here to read the story from its source.