The Hindu : International : Sunni nominee declines post

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, May 09, 2005

International

International

Sunni nominee declines post

Atul Aneja

MANAMA: Iraq's new Parliament has approved six new Cabinet Ministers, but a Sunni nominee has declined to take office in protest against appointments that have been based on sectarian lines.

Hashim Al-Shible, a Sunni Arab, turned down the post of Human Rights Minister.

Out of the seven available posts, Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari appears to have offered four to the Sunnis, in a bid to defuse the Iraqi resistance, which the community has led. It is estimated that over 300 persons have died in surging violence in Iraq over the past 10 days.

Explaining his decision, Mr. Al-Shible said "Concentrating on sectarian identities leads to divisions in the society and state, and for that reason I respectfully decline the post."

Iraq's oil exports are down to 1.8 million barrels a day, from a pre-war average of 2.8 million barrels per day.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News Update

Stories in this Section

Putin's grandma, brother died in World War II

Armymen behind attempt on Musharraf, says Minister

Labour MPs want Blair to quit

Putin calls for CIS unity

Sunni nominee declines post

Woman who held Hitler secret

Close shave on Mount Everest

Death ends feud of Kabul's last Jews

Afghan women urged to contest polls

Secret papers reveal U.K.'s N-plan

India to push for U.N. democratisation