BOMBINGS EXPOSE THE SECTARIAN FISSURES IN IRAQ

Disagreement between the prime minister and his deputy reflects political fragility

Iraq has still not experienced a smooth transition that would ensure stability and a prosperous future. Violence continues to be a recurrent factor. Only when violence stops completely will Iraq be able to start the process of rebuilding in earnest. On Saturday, a bomb in the southern port city of Basra killed at least 53 people and injured no less than 137. It was one of many other bombings that have targeted Shiites, especially during their religious ceremonies. The authorities said the attacks are coordinated in Baghdad and Nasiriyah. Another bombing earlier in the month also killed at least 78 people — the deadliest in the country for more than a year.

There is no question that the frequency and scale of such bombings are indications of the general scene in Iraq. Having so many attacks that are clearly identified as being sectarian in character should raise the alarm as they should have been on the decline and not vice-versa. To complicate matters further, the situation with regard to the political parties and the leadership in Iraq does not look promising either. Iraq’s Sunni deputy prime minister Saleh Al Mutlaq has called on Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki to step down. He has also warned of the political crisis the country is facing which could lead to a wider sectarian conflict in the region.

If anything, the disagreement between the prime minister and his deputy reflects a wider division amongst the political and religious parties in the country. It is obvious that such a situation mirrors the fragile relationship between various sect-based and religious groups. Yet this is the most dangerous of all divisions for Iraq as it is the first step that may lead to complete disintegration.