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

Hot on Facebook
Guy Buys $123 Safe on eBay, Finds $26,000 Inside Seller tries to get half the cash back, fails »

Key Sunni Bloc Deserts Maliki

Defection deepens political crisis as suicide bombs kill 70

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 1, 2007 3:01 PM CDT
Email

(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.

Five cabinet members and a deputy PM are quitting, though their departure may have little practical impact on the Shi'ite-dominated government, which hailed the inclusion of a Sunni faction as a major step toward unity. On the capital's streets, a car bomb killed 50 at a gas station, with another 20 dying at an ice-cream shop.

Firemen extinguish a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. Police said the explosion was the work of a suicide attacker. (AP Photo/Asaad Mouhsin)
Firemen extinguish a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday, Aug....   (Associated Press)
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani speaks at a joint press conference with president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, unseen, in Dukan city, near Sulaimaniyah, 260 kilometers (160 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, July 27, 2007. The Iraqi president says threat by the Sunni Arab bloc to quit the...
Iraq's President Jalal Talabani speaks at a joint press conference with president of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region, Massoud Barzani, unseen, in Dukan city, near Sulaimaniyah, 260 kilometers (160...   (Associated Press)
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki meets with Iraqi army officers and local leaders in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, July 26, 2007. Prime Minister al-Maliki was in Baqouba to meet with local leaders about improving the quality of life for local residents following military operations...
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki meets with Iraqi army officers and local leaders in Baqouba, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, July 26, 2007. Prime Minister al-Maliki...   (Associated Press)
Firemen try to extinguish a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. Police said the explosion was the work of a suicide attacker. (AP Photo/Wisam Sami)
Firemen try to extinguish a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
A man looks at a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. Police said the explosion was the work of a suicide attacker. (AP Photo/Wisam Sami)
A man looks at a fuel tanker that exploded near a gas station in the primarily Sunni Mansour neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq, killing at least 50 people and wounding 60, on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007....   (Associated Press)
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Prime Minister al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave any time they want, though he acknowledged the forces need...
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki speaks during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, July 14, 2007. Prime Minister al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping...   (Associated Press)
Iraq's Vice President and a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front Party Tareq Al-Hashemi speaks at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc said Wednesday it has suspended its membership in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition government, dealing a new setback to...
Iraq's Vice President and a member of the Iraqi Accordance Front Party Tareq Al-Hashemi speaks at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc said Wednesday...   (Associated Press)
Khalif Alyan, a senior member of Iraqi Accordance Front Party, center, speaks between Iraq's Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi, right, and Adnan al-Dulaimi, left, at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 25, 2007 with other members of the party. Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc said Wednesday it has suspended...
Khalif Alyan, a senior member of Iraqi Accordance Front Party, center, speaks between Iraq's Vice President Tareq Al-Hashemi, right, and Adnan al-Dulaimi, left, at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq,...   (Associated Press)
Adnan al-Dulaimi, a leader of the Accordance Front Party, center, Alaa Makki, left, and Khalif Alyan, right, appear at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Iraq's largest Sunni Arab bloc said Wednesday it has suspended its membership in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's coalition government, dealing a...
Adnan al-Dulaimi, a leader of the Accordance Front Party, center, Alaa Makki, left, and Khalif Alyan, right, appear at a news conference in Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, July 25, 2007. Iraq's largest Sunni...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Sunni bloc quits to hurt Maliki credibility with US
Associated Press

Proposed Sunni bloc boycott threatens Maliki, Bush
Washington Post

Boycott follows minister's arrest warrant for murder
Al Jazeera

 
Iraq • Shiite • Nouri al-Maliki • United States • suicide bombing • Sunnis • troop withdrawal • Sunni Accordance Front • Iraq government • Muqtada al-Sadr

More Newser Stories

Suicide Bomb Kills 50 in Iraq

Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

Sadr Group Leaves Iraq's Ruling Alliance

Agreement on Key Iraq Oil Law Hits the Skids

Maliki Calls Summit to Heal Iraqi Cabinet
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne