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Maliki's Opponents Mull Next Move

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is facing threats to his rule from both Kurdish and Sunni quarters, which seek to undermine confidence in his ability to govern, writes Ali Abel Sadah.
Sunni Muslims take part in an anti-government demonstration in Falluja, 50 km (31 miles) west of Baghdad, March 8, 2013. Thousands of Sunni Muslims protested after Friday prayers in huge rallies against Shi'ite Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, demanding that he step down. REUTERS/Mohanned Faisal (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS RELIGION) - RTR3EQ85
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Will the Sunni and Kurdish opponents of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki seek again to vote him out of office? They already attempted to take this step in 2012 but backtracked at the last minute. Today, however, they find themselves in a dire political situation, as violence is likely to break out across the entire country.

This comes amid signs suggesting that Sunni and Kurdish MPs are likely to withdraw from the Maliki government. In fact, the Iraqiya MPs failed to attend the weekly cabinet meeting on March 12, 2013, with the exception of the Ministry of Electricity, whose alliance bloc known as “Li Haal” [For a Solution] has a good relationship with Maliki. The Li Haal block constitutes a Sunni component in the Iraqiya list led by Jamal Karbouli.

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