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Thursday, Oct 26, 2006
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U.S. bypassing me: Maliki

Atul Aneja

Iraq, America tensions deepen

DUBAI: Tensions between the Iraqi Government and the Americans appear to be deepening with the Iraqi Prime Minister accusing the U.S. authorities in Baghdad of bypassing him.

Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has taken exception to two key actions that the Americans have taken.

First, he has rejected the U.S. announcement that his Government had agreed to a plan to restore order in strife-torn Iraq within a fixed time-frame.

Second, he has protested against the U.S. move to attack Sadr city — a major Shia stronghold in Baghdad where he finds considerable support.

The raid began on Tuesday, where Iraqi forces on the ground sought U.S. air support after they were attacked.

The U.S. side said its forces landed "precision" fire during the attack. Slamming what was apparently an American unilateral decision, Mr. Maliki, who is commander-in-chief of the army, said he would seek "clarification about what has happened in Sadr city."

Denying the assertion by U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad that he had agreed to set a timetable to achieve major security and political goals, Mr. Maliki said his Government represented "the will of the people and no one has the right to impose a timetable on it."

He said the U.S. demand for timelines was dictated by the November 7 American midterm electoral compulsions.

The U.S. invasion of Iraq, which has led to mounting American casualties, has become a major election issue.

Since the start of the war, 2,801 U.S. service members have died in Iraq, according to an Associated Press count.

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