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Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq, Saleh al-Mutlaq said that Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki should step down if his government fails to meet his own 100-day target to improve its performance in the wake of Egypt-inspired protests. The remarks, by Mutlaq reveal the deep divisions remaining in a fractious coalition government formed in December after nine months of wrangling following an inconclusive election. Like other countries in the Arab world inspired by the fall of Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, Iraq has seen a steadily growing wave of demonstrations this year among a public angry about corruption, a lack of public services and jobs. Meanwhile, security forces have responded with tear gas, water cannon and gunfire. The prime minister had said two weeks ago that he would sack ministers if performance did not improve within 100 days, effectively giving them a June deadline. It would be worth noting that Deputy PM Mutlaq is a leading figure in the secularist Iraqiya bloc which enjoys support of the Sunni Arab minority.1
Police said seven Iraqi soldiers were killed by three gunmen in a speeding car on the outskirts of Iraq’s city of Mosul, where the Iraqi government continues to fight a stubborn Sunni insurgency. The men opened fire on the soldiers’ car in Badush, west of Mosul. The soldiers, who were dressed in civilian clothes, were shot as they left their unit to go on a break.2
- 1. “Meet demands or go, deputy tells Iraq leader,” Khaleej Times, March 10, 2011, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...
- 2. “Gunmen kill seven Iraqi soldiers in Mosul,” Khaleej Times, March 12, 2011, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...