The Hindu : International : Renewed U.S. offensive in Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 25, 2005

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International

Renewed U.S. offensive in Iraq

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, FEB. 24. At least 10 persons have been killed and 25 injured in the city of Tikrit after a suicide car bomber drove his vehicle into the car park of a police station and set off the explosives.

Casualties have been heavy, as the car park was located in the basement of the building. There was a large presence of policemen at the time as dozens of officers had arrived to relieve colleagues who had been working overnight. The blast set more than a dozen cars ablaze.

The bombing took place amid spiralling violence following a new U.S. military offensive against several cities and towns along the Euphrates River. Six Iraqis were killed in the town of Hit, and U.S. forces had to summon air support during daylong clashes in Haqlaniyah, 216 km northwest of Baghdad. A U.S. soldier was killed in the town of Tuz, 168 km north of the capital.

Fighting has also been reported from Mosu.In Baghdad, gunmen assassinated the director of the Iraqi Trade Ministry, Saad Abbas Hassan, as he drove down a road.

No clarity

There is still no clarity on the formation of a new government following the January 30 elections. The United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), the Shia party which has 140 seats, needs a partner that can provide it with another 43 seats. This is necessary for it to muster the mandatory two-thirds majority in the 275-member Transitional National Assembly so that a government can be formed.

The Kurdish Alliance with 75 seats can provide the necessary numbers, in case it decides to enter into a coalition with the UIA.

However, the Kurdish parties are demanding that the largely ceremonial post of President should go to their leader Jalal Talabani, in return for their support.

Seeking guarantees

They are also seeking guarantees for the preservation of autonomy of the mountainous Kurdish areas in the north.

"Regarding the nomination for the presidential post, no names were presented officially and we are running non-official discussions with all parties, especially with the Kurdish officials here in Baghdad,'' said Abdul Razaq Al-Kadhimi, spokesman for Ibrahim Jaafari, the UIA nominee for Prime Minister.

There have also been rumblings within the UIA, with supporters of Ahmed Chalabi, who dropped out of the contest for the post of Prime Minister.

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