Another Iraqi Province
Threatens to Secede

The local council in Iraq’s Wasit Governorate has threatened to declare the governorate [an independent] region if confidence is withdrawn from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s government. 

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Summary : Taking its cue from Basra, Iraq’s Wasit governorate has threatened to declare itself an independent region if Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is given a vote of no confidence, writes Ali al-Fayyad. Meanwhile, political and religious leaders are scrambling to solve the country’s political impasse.  Publisher: Azzaman (Iraq) Original Title: Wasit Threatens Secession After Basra Author: Ali al-Fayyad First Published: May 31, 2012 Posted on: May 31 2012 Translated by: Naria Tanoukhi Categories : Iraq

The source said that “the Wasit Governorate’s local council held a press conference where council member Majid Ali Askar stated that the governorate would declare itself an independent region if confidence is withdrawn from Maliki's government, just like what the  provincial council of Basra did.”

He added that “the council members called on political blocs to put aside their differences and resort to dialogue.” Earlier, Basra’s provincial council had threatened  to declare Basra Governorate an independent region if confidence was withdrawn from Maliki.

Meanwhile, Ammar al-Hakim, head of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, discussed all current political issues with religious cleric Mohammad Taqi al-Madrasi over the phone. A statement issued on May 30 by Al-Madrasi’s office said that “Hakim contacted Al-Madrasi, and the two discussed the current situation in the country, namely the ongoing political bickering between political blocs.”

In a phone call with Al-Madrasi, President Jalal Talabani, promised to work toward resolving the political impasse in the country.