Sunday, May 06, 2007

Iraqi Lawmakers reject US pressure

BAGHDAD: Iraqi lawmakers said yesterday that they might yet cut short their planned summer recess in order to pass key laws, but warned the US not to push them to do so.

Some members of parliament said privately that pressure from Washington might even persuade some anti-American parties to insist on taking the two-month break as planned, as a gesture of defiance.

“This is unnecessary interference,” said Kurdish legislator Mahmud Othman. “Parliament has a sense of responsibility. If they find there is a need to legislate laws urgently they will not go on leave.

“This American interference is strange and could have negative results.”

Some US politicians have angrily insisted that the Iraqi parliament cancel a recess due in August and September in order to have more time to pass bills designed to aid war-torn Iraq’s quest for national reconciliation.

The Iraqi assembly is due to debate a law to rehabilitate former members of ousted dictator Saddam Hussain’s Baath Party and allow them to return to public life, and has a draft of a bill on sharing national oil revenues.

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