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Maliki Threatens "Division" To Pressure Opponents

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has played the "division" card as a threat in dealing with Iraq’s sectarian and political factions, writes Mushreq Abbas.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) walk after their meeting in the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow October 10, 2012. Putin lobbied Iraq's prime minister on Wednesday to support Russian energy investment, as the oil arm of gas export monopoly Gazprom pushes for a foothold in the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.  REUTERS/Kirril Kudryavtsev/Pool  (RIUSSIA - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR38ZTU
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It is no coincidence that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is talking about the “division of Iraq” as an option to solve the various crises between the Kurds and Sunnis. In an interview with state-owned Al Iraqiya TV on Dec. 30, 2012, Maliki stated: "Iraq is left with four options: resorting to early elections, going to the negotiating table and reaching a solution based on the constitution, the outbreak of a sectarian war, or division."

This card is perhaps the most played in confrontations among Iraqis, and it has been brought up in the past by Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani and Speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni.

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