IRAQ: Iraq leaders reach agreement on some benchmarks

Iraq's top Shi'ite, Sunni Arab, and Kurdish leaders announce consensus on some key laws that Washington views as vital to fostering national reconciliation. Iraq's top Shi'ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish leaders have been meeting in a rare show of public unity. And on Sunday (August 26) they announced they had reached consensus on some key laws that Washington views as vital to fostering national reconciliation. The appearance of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on television with the other leaders comes at a time of crumbling support for his government. The other leaders were President Jalal Talabani, who is a Kurd; Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi; Shi'ite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi; and Masoud Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Iraqi officials said the leaders had signed an agreement on easing restrictions on former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party joining the civil service and military. Officials said consensus had been reached on holding provincial elections and releasing many detainees who have been held without charge, which has been a key demand of Sunni Arabs because the majority are members of their sect. The leaders also endorsed a draft oil law, which has already been agreed by the Cabinet but has not yet gone to parliament. The law is seen as the most important of a package of measures that have been stalled by political infighting in Maliki's government between the political parties, who have been reluctant to compromise. President Jalal Talabani described it as "a good beginning".

ITN Source | August 27, 2007

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