« Egypt and Jordan Join West In Pressuring Hamas | Main | Alito Apparently More Independent Than Ted Kennedy »
February 2, 2006
Sunnis Propose Deal For Peace In Iraq
Topics: IraqIraq's Sunni leadership presented the majority-Shi'ite government yesterday with a 10-point ultimatum that they said would either end the violence or lead to a national strike and widespread street demonstrations. But whether or not the political parties have any control over the insurgents, who include foreign terrorists and disgruntled former members of dictator Saddam Hussein's military, remains to be seen. If the conditions were met, Sunni leaders will call on their people to stop "the bleeding of Iraqis" by ending attacks on Iraqi government, police and military targets. Nothing was mentioned about U.S. or coalition targets.
At the top of the list of demands was the resignation of the interior minister and his entire staff -- who are seen as leading a brutal anti-Sunni campaign through Iranian-trained Badr militias and a pro-Shi'ite police force.
The call comes amid a rise in sectarian killings, which Sunnis suspect are sanctioned by the government. Bodies of Sunnis, many blindfolded and shot in the head, are found almost daily. ... the Sunnis also asked that the Iraqi army take over from the police in the country's cities.On the surface, none of these requests sound unreasonable to me, except that as a condition of acceptance by the Iraqi government, the Sunnis should agree to end ALL of the violence, including that against U.S. and Coalition forces. That's my deal, but the parties probably don't care what I have to say.... all militias in Iraq must be disarmed. He called for a halt to random arrests, or any arrest without a court order, and said all those being held without court orders should be released.
... demanded an apology from the United States and Iraqi governments for all those who have died while being held without charges and called on both governments to release the results of investigations into secret prisons uncovered by U.S. troops last year.... The prisons had been run by forces under the authority of the Interior Ministry, which apparently abused and tortured prisoners.
... Mr. al-Hashimi called for an end to such secret prisons and asked that a list of names of those arrested be made public.
... Finally, the Sunni leader said Iraqi television stations should stop inciting hatred against the Sunni minority in the country. (Read more...)
Related:
Sunni Shiite Iraq - by Abu Khaleel
Bush guest grateful for U.S. commitment
Posted by Richard at February 2, 2006 7:45 AM
Articles Related to Iraq:
- Sunnis Propose Deal For Peace In Iraq - Feb 02, 2006
