US supports Masum amid crisis
The United States said it “fully supports” Iraq’s new President, just hours after embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accused him of violating the constitution.
The State Department responded after Maliki accused Fuad Masum, who was named President last month, of neglecting to name a Prime Minister from the country’s largest parliamentary faction by yesterday’s deadline. He said Masum had violated the constitution “for the sake of political goals”.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the US rejected any effort to use coercion or manipulation in the process of choosing a new Iraqi leader. She said the US supported the process to select a Prime Minister “by building a national consensus and governing in an inclusive manner”.
Maliki’s surprise speech plunged the Government into a political crisis at a time it is battling advances by Isis (Islamic State) militants. Maliki is seeking a third term as Prime Minister, but the latest crisis has prompted even his closest allies to call for his resignation. A Parliament session scheduled for today to discuss the election and who might lead the next Iraqi Government was postponed until August 20.
US officials said the dispute between Maliki and Masum centred on the specifics of the deadline for nominees to replace the Prime Minister. While Maliki believes the deadline was yesterday, other Iraqi leaders believe the deadline is today.
The speech sparked rumours that tanks were surrounding the presidential palace in Baghdad and that political rivals were in danger. US officials had no confirmation of such developments, but said there was an increased security presence in Baghdad.
US congressional Republicans are broadly in favour of military action in the region, but several yesterday criticised President Barack Obama’s strategy, saying it did not go far enough.
Senator John McCain said the US should conduct strikes not only against Isis in Iraq, but also against the group’s strongholds in neighbouring Syria.
Republican congressman Peter King called Obama “weak” for relying on air strikes conducted by warplanes and drones while refusing to send US ground troops into the region.
Senator Lindsey Graham said he feared Isis-inspired attacks on US soil. “If [Obama] does not go on the offensive against Isis . . . they are coming here.”