Coalition building in Iraq

Aaron Glantz reports for IPS, the main victors in the Iraq elections appear to be Shia politicians, however, the final results deny a clear Shia majority; forcing talk of coalition with either the Kurds or interim prime minister Iyyad Allawi.

Al-Hakim, Head of the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, has indicated a preference for a coalition with the Kurds, who demand autonomy in the North. But opinion is divided, a Kurdish editor explained "A coalition between the Shia and Kurd is good... The Shia are in the south and the Kurds in the north. The Sunni are between us, so we will never fight." In contrast, a Baghdad columnist says "The main goal of the Sunni is to avoid a government supported by Iran". He believes that keeping Allawi in power will be the most stable solution for Iraq - even if it is not the most popular.

The only consensus is the need to get the 150,000 U.S. troops out of the country. "No dignified person is willing to see foreign troops in their country," al-Hakim said, "and the Iraqi people are no exception.”

Urmee Khan