Boycotting Iraq Lawmakers, Mins Set Conditions To Return

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BAGHDAD (AP)--Shiite lawmakers and Cabinet ministers who are boycotting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's government to protest his summit with U.S. President George W. Bush have set two conditions to rejoin the political process, a top legislator said Thursday.

First, al-Maliki must improve security in Iraq and increase the number of well-trained Iraqi security forces, said Baha al-Aaraji, a leading Shiite in the boycott by politicians loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Second, the government must provide more electricity, gas and other basic services, especially in southern provinces that are less violent than ones in central and northern Iraq, al-Aaraji said in a telephone interview.

He refused to answer any other questions, including whether he thought the boycott would threaten the viability of al-Maliki's fragile coalition government of feuding Shiites, Sunni Arabs, Kurds and secularists.

more:http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20061130%5cACQDJON200611300329DOWJONESDJONLINE000528.htm&


(Baha al-Aaraji )Shiite official demands more security

By THOMAS WAGNER and SAMEER N. YACOUB, Associated Press Writers
20 minutes ago



BAGHDAD, Iraq - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki must improve security and provide more reliable electricity and other basic services before Shiite politicians end a boycott of the government launched to protest the premier's summit with President Bush, a top legislator said Thursday.

The boycott by ministers and lawmakers loyal to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is not affecting many vital ministries, and one striking official said work continues at his ministry even with him gone.

But the boycott has driven home the fragility of the Iraqi government, and one of its leaders said in a telephone interview that to end it there must be an increase in the number of well-trained Iraqi security forces.

Baha al-Aaraji also said the government must provide more electricity, gas and other basic services, especially in southern provinces that are less violent than central and northern Iraq. In Baghdad and other cities, residents often have no electricity or water supplies for much of the day.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq