Baghdad, May 7 (AKnews) - Following Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's nomination of Saadoun al-Dulaimi to head the defense ministry, an MP close to the Iraqi premier outlined the reasons behind his choice.
Salman al-Moussawi told AKnews on Saturday that Dulaimi was selected because of his excellent track record and freedom from political and sectarian pressures.
"Al-Dulaimi managed the defense ministry in the government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and he proved his efficiency," he said, "...he is apart from sectarianism and has no external affiliations."
Moussawi explained that Saadoun al-Dulaimi is an independent parliamentarian without ties to any of the political parties. He holds a master's degree in sociology from the University of Baghdad, and a PhD in social psychology from the U.K.
Dulaimi joined the Iraqi opposition against the rule of Saddam Hussein after the 1990 invasion of Kuwait and was later sentenced to death in absentia for his participation in an attempted coup.
Parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Maliki had nominated Tawfiq al-Yasiri to head the interior ministry, Saadoun al-Dulaimi for the Defense ministry, and Riad Gharib for the national security ministry.
Since parliament gave its vote of confidence to Maliki's incomplete ministerial line-up on December 21 last year, the Iraqi PM has held the three key security ministries, having promised at the time to name his candidates for the posts within two weeks.
The nominations have been repeatedly curbed by ongoing disputes between the political blocs over the allocation of the ministries according to an electoral point-system devised as part of the power-sharing agreements signed between them prior to the formation of the current administration.
Moussawi said that Prime Minister Maliki may withdraw his latest nominations and replace them if the candidates face vehement opposition.
The al-Iraqiya List led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, responded swiftly to the announcement of Maaliki's candidates on Thursday, and said the bloc would refuse to vote for them.
Al-Iraqiyya has remained critical of the way Maliki dismissed its candidate for the Interior Ministry - Salim Dalli, and instead nominated Tawfiq al-Yasiri.
A prominent Iraqiya deputy Adnan al-Danbous told AKnews earlier that the list had submitted four candidates for the ministries but the PM had overlooked all of them.
© AK News 2011
