Iraqis Set Opening for New Parliament (March 16th)

[kentuck]

Is Sistani holding his cards close to his vest until he sees what the American plans are//
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http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ne-world-10-l3&flok=FF-APO-1107&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20050306%2F2245542910.htm&sc=1107&photoid=20050306BAG103

<snip>
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi politicians set March 16 for the opening of the country's first democratically elected parliament in modern history as a deal hardened Sunday to name Jalal Talabani, a leader of the minority Kurds, to the presidency.

The more powerful prime minister's job will go to Ibrahim al-Jaafari, a deeply conservative Shiite who leads the Islamic Dawa party. His nomination, which the Kurds have agreed to, has been endorsed by the most powerful Shiite cleric in Iraq - Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

<snip>
He added, however, that the clergy-backed United Iraqi Alliance also reached a preliminary agreement with the Kurds on their other conditions - including extending their territories to include Kirkuk.

Jundiyan said they wanted the deal on paper before going though with it, while alliance officials, including Ahmad Chalabi, said those negotiations were not over.


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