While the Eid al-Adha observances may still be cutting the number of reports, two significant stories did come out of Iraq today. In the first, President Talabani has taken a stand against executing Tariq Aziz. The second deals with the continuing problems of government formation. Only three casualties were reported today, all of them deaths.
President Jalal Talabani, who is in France to attend the Socialist International congress, told a French news agency that he would refuse to sign execution orders for Saddam confidant and former Foreign Minister, Tariq Aziz. Talabani cited Aziz’s old age and Christianity, and his own philosophy for his stance. Unfortunately for Aziz, Talabani might not have the power to prevent it Executions can also be carried out by parliamentary proclamation or one of Talabani’s deputies could sign the order. Aziz was condemned for persecuting Shi’ites. Talabani separately said he would not object to forming a special province for Christians.
From London, Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi predicted that the new government would fall because of the failings of a power-sharing deal. Iraqiya had won the most seats in March elections, but thanks to machinations on the part of the Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki government, they were unable to gain enough traction to claim the premiership. It took lawmakers eight months to come up with a power-sharing agreement that allowed for the formation of the new government.
Prime Minister Maliki, meanwhile, greeted dignitaries and other guests to Eid al-Adha observances at one of Saddam Hussein‘s former palaces. Iraqi citizens were able to watch the prime minister, who was seated on a "gilded chair," on television. Some gloomily noted the spectacle reminded them of Saddam’s rule, while others lamented Iraq’s preference for strongmen.
In Mosul, gunmen killed one person, while police mistakenly killed another civilian. Police arrested 21 suspects during an operation.
A roadside bomb killed a man in Baquba, while police arrested 13 suspects throughout the province.
Two former Saddam guards were arrested in al-Auja. One of them is a cousin of Saddam.
