LOC17:31
14:31 GMT
By Mohammad Al-Ghazawi (with photos)
BAGHDAD, Jan 13 (KUNA) -- One month after the two major Kurd parties -
Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan - and the Iraqi
Islamic Parties signed the Dokan Accord, Iraqi Shiite and Sunni MPs started
lobbying for a trans-factional alliance to limit Kurds aspirations.
The new alliance called "the New Covenant" includes the National Dialogue
Council - led by Sheikh Khalaf Al-Alyan, the Iraqi List, the National Dialogue
Front, the Virtue Party, the Islamic Dawa (call) Party and former member of
the National Accord Front as well as MPs from the Sadrist trend, Al-Alyan told
KUNA here Sunday.
"The new alliance targets neither the government nor the Prime Minister
(Nuri Al-Maliki), Al-Alyan said following a meeting between the alliance
representatives and Al-Maliki.
"It rather targets certain tendencies that are harmful to the government
and the country," he made clear.
"More than 140 MPs from various political trends have joined the new
alliance" Usama Al-Najifi - MP from the Iraqi List - said in statements to
KUNA.
Al-Najifi expected more MPs from other political blocs, including
Al-Maliki's trend probably - would join the new alliance.
The alliance aims to react to the move of Kurd blocs to push for their
claims regarding disputed regions under Article 140 of the constitution.
Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi - one of the signatories to the Dokan
Accord - said in statements to Baghdad TV channel Sunday that referendum on
the future of Kirkuk region should be held in "normal conditions."
"Settlement of highly-sensitive issues can not be reached only on the
grounds that they were mentioned in the constitution," he highlighted.
"The Iraqi Islamic Party is of the view that all disputable issues should
be solved through logical and normal approach and without any pressures or
demographical changes," Al-Hashimi added.
For his part, Abbas Al-Bayati - Turkmen MP from the United Iraqi Alliance -
said the new alliance would face strong opposition from the Kurds as it aimed
to curtail their demands.
He predicted fragmentation of current parliamentary blocs soon after
declaration of the document of the new alliance. (end)
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