Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Political Crisis Flares in Iraq

Sunnis walk out of parliament, demand more power

By Neal Colgrass, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 17, 2011 5:09 PM CST

(Newser) – Iraq's political structure already seems to be unraveling. Before the last US troops have left, Sunni politicians are walking out of parliament and threatening to quit altogether, the Washington Post reports. Ministers in the Sunni Iraqiya bloc are demanding more political power and greater control of Iraq's Shiite-dominated militia—especially after tanks recently surrounded the homes of Sunni politicians in the fortified Green Zone.

Sunnis accuse Maliki of taking over the nation's militia; Maliki loyalists say Sunnis are trying to prevent the arrest of Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi, who has been linked to terrorism. Trouble is also brewing in one province where Sunni leaders tried to seek regional autonomy, only to see Shiite troops set fire to the governor's home. “We think there are new indications of a new attempt to create a dictatorship,” says a Sunni politician. “We are really worried that the country is being led into chaos and division and the possibility of civil war is there.”

Ahmed Abdul-Ghafoor al-Samarraie, the head of the Sunni Endowment, left, speaks to Iraqi's Prime Minister Nouri al- Maliki in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Protesters chant anti-Iranian exiles slogans and wave Iraqi flags during a demonstration in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Dec. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks during a US/Iraq Initiative luncheon at the US Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC, December 13, 2011. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

25%

48%

10%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 102 comments

BrushMan

Dec 18, 2011 1:02 PM CST

History demonstrates that there is only one way for an invader to overcome another society; assimilate their culture through intermarriage. In a matter of only a few centuries, they will become more like us, and we more similar to them. But to think that you can simply force your culture and values on another society is naive. Provide a counter example if you can.

Twiny

Dec 18, 2011 11:26 AM CST

Iraq will be at war with itself within six months. Before 2012 is over, Iran will have started annexing Iraqi territory, and every American and every Iraqi who died in Bush's war will have died for nothing.

Rational.-Anarchist

Dec 18, 2011 8:28 AM CST

So? This is supposed to be news?

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

Washington Post (Source Grid »)

World

Iraq • Shiite • Nouri al-Maliki • Sunnis • Iraqiya

More Newser Stories

VP: Maliki Pushing Iraq Toward Sectarian War

Tariq al-Hashemi accuses Shiite PM of eliminating rivals

(NEWSER) - Sunni VP Tariq al-Hashemi today openly accused Nouri al-Maliki of trying to eliminate his political rivals and run Iraq like a "one-man-show," a move that Hashemi says is pushing the country toward sectarian war. The comments came during an interview with the AP, which notes that the escalating tension between the two men , along with the series of bombings that killed at least 69 people yesterday , have hiked fears that Iraq could indeed be thrown into new violence following the exit of US troops. More»

Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

Ahmadinejad visit deepens ties with neighbor

(NEWSER) - In an historic visit, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Iraq today predicting “a new chapter” for relations between the two countries, despite a tense history and a feud with Baghdad’s American allies. Ahmadinejad, who won’t be protected by US forces during his two-day trip, met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and will sit down with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. More»

Iraq Lawmakers Overcome Rifts, Pass Key Laws

Long deadlock had threatened to dissolve young parliament

(NEWSER) - A day after the speaker of Iraq’s parliament threatened to disband the legislature, lawmakers passed three key but divisive laws after months of infighting, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The measures—passage of a federal budget, limited amnesty for prisoners, and curbs on the powers of local governments—allowed Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis all to claim victory, the New York Times says. More»

Key Sunni Bloc Deserts Maliki

Defection deepens political crisis as suicide bombs kill 70

(NEWSER) - The Sunni Accordance Front defected from Iraq's government today, accusing PM Nuri al-Maliki of being uncooperative, Reuters reports, on a day when suicide bombs killed more than 70 in Baghdad. "This is probably the most serious political crisis we have faced since the passage of the constitution,'' a deputy PM said of the troubled government. More»

Key Iraqi Oil Bill Stalls

Sunni, Shia and Kurds still at odds; White House benchmark not being met

(NEWSER) - Bitter infighting among Iraq's ethnic and religious groups is holding up crucial legislation on Iraqi oil regulation and distribution, the AP reports. Despite heavy pressure from Washington to pass the bill, debate scheduled to start yesterday was delayed. Sunnis object to the bill because they fear most oil wealth will go to Kurds and Shia, while the Kurds are resisting concessions to the Sunnis. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Political Crisis Flares in Iraq

Sunnis walk out of parliament, demand more power

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iraq • Shiite • Nouri al-Maliki • Sunnis • Iraqiya

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

VP: Maliki Pushing Iraq Toward Sectarian War

Tariq al-Hashemi accuses Shiite PM of eliminating rivals

Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

Ahmadinejad visit deepens ties with neighbor

Iraq Lawmakers Overcome Rifts, Pass Key Laws

Long deadlock had threatened to dissolve young parliament

Key Sunni Bloc Deserts Maliki

Defection deepens political crisis as suicide bombs kill 70

Key Iraqi Oil Bill Stalls

Sunni, Shia and Kurds still at odds; White House benchmark not being met

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?