Obama, Clinton praise Iraq's new government coalition, Sunni MPs perform walkout

[News_Editor]

Obama, Clinton praise Iraq's new government coalition, Sunni MPs perform walkout

2010-11-12 20:41:36 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday praised Iraq's new government coalition agreement in which President Jalal Talabani named Nuri al-Maliki as the prime minister-elect.

After an eight-month deadlock, Obama described the announcement as "representative, inclusive and reflect the will of the Iraqi people," while Clinton said it would "move their country forward."

"Today’s coalition decision is a milestone in the emergence of the new Iraq and it is a testament to the determination of the Iraqi people to build their own democracy, a goal only they can achieve," Clinton said, adding that the agreement ensures meaningful representation for the election winners, encompassing all of Iraq’s ethnic and sectarian communities. 

Meanwhile, the White House stated that President Obama was "encouraged by the substantial progress that has been made in forging an inclusive government that represents the Iraqi people and the results of this year's election."

Clinton stated that the agreement also includes critical provisions for power-sharing and other reforms, including revisions to the to the de-Ba'athification process. 

In addition, Iraqi leaders have agreed to establish a National Council on Strategic Policies. "This important body will serve as a steering group in the areas of defense policy, foreign affairs, economic policy, and other strategic issues," Clinton underlined, saying that a comprehensive agenda should follow the agreement.

Despite the praised agreement, the new government has already faced its first obstacle.

While Iraqi leaders had agreed on the unified government, President Talabani, a Kurd, re-elected, al Maliki, a Shi'ite Muslim, and appointed speaker Osama al Nujaifi, a Sunni, around 60 members of parliament from a Sunni-backed bloc performed a walkout.

The MPs protested and claimed that the power-sharing deal was not being honored and Shi'ite domination in government would continue, while Sunnis were giving a lesser role than anticipated.

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