Voice of America.
Quote:
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki traveled to the holy city of Najaf to meet with the leader of Iraq 's Shi'ite majority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. Sistani sponsors the prime minister's ruling United Alliance.
Mr. Maliki later told reporters he sought Sistani's advice on filling empty ministerial posts and government reform.
Mr. Maliki said Sistani pushed him to solve the political, security and economic problems that plague the country.
One of the biggest groups in the United Alliance, the movement of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, left the government in April protesting Mr. Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq.
The biggest Sunni Arab bloc in parliament, the Accordance Front, also pulled out its ministers, accusing Mr. Maliki of favoritism toward Shi'ites.
|
It sounds like Sistani told him to buck up and do what needs to be done. But I don't see how he can without a functioning government, so maybe Sistani wants things to remain in flux.
__________________
The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.
|