AP: Talks Under Way to Replace Iraq PM [View All]

Talks Under Way to Replace Iraq PM

By HAMZA HENDAWI and QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA
The Associated Press
Sunday, December 10, 2006; 6:29 PM

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Major partners in Iraq's governing coalition are in behind-the-scenes
talks to oust Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki amid discontent over his failure to quell
raging violence, according to lawmakers involved.

The talks are aimed at forming a new parliamentary bloc that would seek to replace the
current government and that would likely exclude supporters of the radical Shiite cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr, who is a vehement opponent of the U.S. military presence.

The new alliance would be led by senior Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who met
with President Bush last week. Al-Hakim, however, was not expected to be the next prime
minister because he prefers the role of powerbroker, staying above the grinding day-to-day
running of the country.

A key figure in the proposed alliance, Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a Sunni Arab, left
for Washington on Sunday for a meeting with Bush at least three weeks ahead of schedule.

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