Iraqi politician claims cabinet posts were bought - Summary

Thu, 23 Dec 2010

Baghdad - An Iraqi politician charged Thursday that some seats in the new cabinet given to the Iraqiya List party were bought at a secret meeting at the home of an unnamed Iraqi businessman in Jordan.

"The allocation of ministry posts among members of the Iraqiya List was based on substantial financial deals," Iraqiya member Kamel al-Dulaimi told the Kurdistan News Agency.

He alleged that the deals were made in the home of an Iraqi businessman residing in neighboring Jordan. Al-Dulaimi stopped short of naming the man.

Al-Dulaimi's al-Hall Party, which is part of the Iraqiya List coalition, was given the Ministry of Industry and Minerals portfolio in the new government.

Reports emerged later on Thursday that the al-Hall Party had also received the Ministry of Electricity portfolio, while the Ministry of Defense portfolio went to another member of the Iraqiya List, according to the Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The Iraqiya List, which is headed by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, is the largest bloc in parliament. The party has been given nine ministries as well as the posts of vice-president and deputy prime minister. Allawi is slated to head a new National Council on Strategic Policies.

Iraq's parliament voted earlier this week for a "partial" government, leaving some posts unfilled, ending a political stalemate that has dragged on since elections nine months ago.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359493,were-bought-summary.html.