Iraq is a step closer to holding a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to one of the parties critical of him. Maysoon al-Damluji, spokeswoman for the Iraqiya bloc, said that over 200 signatures have been collected so far from supportive members of the Council of Representatives. The signatories come from across the political spectrum and include members of Maliki’s State of Law party.
A group of political leaders consisting of Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Kurdish President Massoud Barzani, Speaker of the House Osama al-Nujafi and Iraqiya bloc head Ayad Allawi instigated the no-confidence vote during a series of meetings. They say Maliki has amassed too much power and needs to instead abide by a 2010 deal that allowed Maliki to retain the premier’s seat for a second term. President Jalal Talabani advised the group to follow all constitutional procedures when continuing further.
The National Alliance ignored an earlier opportunity to select the next prime minister and insists only it has the right to withdraw confidence from Maliki. The bloc did hold a meeting today, without the prime minister in attendance.
At least four Iraqis were killed and five more were wounded.
In Baghdad, gunmen killed an Interior Ministry official. A bomb blasted a pick-up truck, killing the driver and wounding four others. A sticky bomb wounded a civilian in Ma’moun.
Gunmen killed an intelligence officer in Falluja.
A Sahwa fighter was killed in Balad Ruz during blast.
A bomb was dismantled in Mosul.
Hundreds of Kurds found in a Saddam-era mass grave were returned home for reburial.
