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Boycott again stalls Iraq debate

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published September 11, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A boycott by several political groups Sunday caused parliament to again put off a rancorous debate on a federalism bill that Sunni Arabs fear will split Iraq apart and fuel sectarian bloodshed.

Authorities reported finding 11 more bodies that appeared to be victims of the religious reprisal killings that have surged in recent months, while 18 Iraqis died in bombings and shootings across the country.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, meanwhile, postponed his first official visit to Iran, officials said.

He was supposed to be in Tehran today to affirm friendly relations and discuss mutual respect for each nation's internal affairs. U.S. officials have accused Iran of not doing enough to stop militants infiltrating into Iraq.

The federalism bill, submitted by the largest Shiite Muslim bloc, the United Iraqi Alliance, calls for a three-part federation that would create a separate autonomous state in the predominantly Shiite south, much like the zone run by Kurds in the north.

Many Sunni Arabs, whose minority dominated during Saddam Hussein's regime, are horrified by the idea. Both the north and south are rich in oil, and Sunnis fear they will end up squeezed into Baghdad and Iraq's western provinces, which have no natural resources.

Vehement objections from Sunni Arabs and an apparent split among Shiites led leaders to delay debate until Sept. 19. A previous attempt to discuss the bill Thursday set off acrimonious squabbling that led parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani to recess that session.

The Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni bloc, and another Sunni party, the National Dialogue Front of Saleh al-Mutlaq, boycotted Sunday's parliament sitting to protest the bill. They were joined by the secular Iraqi National List, led by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, and by lawmakers loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose bloc usually supports the main Shiite coalition, the United Iraqi Alliance.

"Federalism is a preliminary step to dividing and separating Iraq. I call on Iraqis to confront this draft," said Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of the Iraqi Accordance Front.

Ayad Jamal al-Deen, a member of the National List, warned that federalism is sowing division among lawmakers.

"It is unwise to create a problem that provokes argument between the blocs," he said, adding that this could undermine the Shiite prime minister's national reconciliation plan that is trying to bridge religious, political and ethnic divides.

Parliament's Shiite deputy speaker, Khalid al-Atiya, defended the bill and denied that federalism is meant to destroy Iraq as a unified state. The idea that the legislation will divide the country "is a misleading one and agitates public opinion without any reason," al-Atiya said.

"Issuing legislation for federalism doesn't mean that we will start the measures of establishing autonomous regions the next day."

The concept of federalism is enshrined in the new Iraqi constitution, and there is already an autonomous Kurdish region in the north. However, special legislation and a referendum would be needed to turn Iraq into a full federation.

[Last modified September 11, 2006, 01:44:26]