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Iraqi Parliament Gives Vote of Confidence to Shiite-Led Government
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The Shiite-dominated government of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari received a vote of confidence Tuesday in the Iraqi National Assembly. Al-Jaafari's 37-member government, announced on April 28, and its program were overwhelmingly approved by a show of hands in the 275-member parliament. "It's obvious that it's almost unanimous. Thank you," deputy parliament speaker Hussain al-Shahristani, a Shiite, said after presiding over the quick vote. Shiites have 140 of the 275 seats in the National Assembly, while Kurds have the second-largest bloc with 75 seats. Sunni Arabs have only 17 seats in parliament, largely because many boycotted the Jan. 30 elections or stayed home for fear of attacks at the polls. "Today's vote is a sign of support to the government's policies and to al-Jaafari. This shows the unity between the legislative and executive authorities," said Saad Jawad a legislator in the prime minister's United Iraqi Alliance. The government has made security its top priority but has been criticized for its seeming inability to halt an insurgency that has killed more than 1,000 people since its inception and to bring order to Iraq. "It is a step aimed at boosting the al-Jaafari government's efforts to achieve security," alliance legislator Jalal al-Din al-Shagir said. Posted by: Steve 2005-06-14 |
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