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Earlier today, the Italian news service AKI reported that the presumed leader of the largest insurgency in Iraq will start cooperating with the Iraqi government. Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, one of the highest-ranking members of Saddam Hussein's government, reportedly pledged to work with Iraqi and American forces to fight al-Qaeda in Iraq: The leader of Iraq's banned Baath party, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has decided to join efforts by the Iraqi authorities to fight al-Qaeda, one of the party's former top officials, Abu Wisam al-Jashaami, told pan-Arab daily Al Hayat. "AlDouri has decided to sever ties with al-Qaeda and sign up to...

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) - Iraq's prime minister lashed out Wednesday at U.S. criticism, saying no one has the right to impose timetables on his elected government and that his country "can find friends elsewhere." Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki blamed the U.S. presidential campaign for the recent tough words about his government, from President Bush and from other U.S. politicians. Bush on Tuesday said he was frustrated with Iraqi leaders' inability to bridge political divisions. But he added that only the Iraqi people can decide whether to sideline al-Maliki. "Clearly, the Iraqi government's got to do more," Bush said. "I think...

Iraq: One of the loudest Iraq War critics, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, reports "tangible results" from the surge. Then he jeopardizes Iraq's future by calling for the prime minister's head. "I hope the parliament will vote the Maliki government out of office and will have the wisdom to replace it with a less sectarian and more unifying prime minister and government," Levin said after three days in Iraq and Jordan with the armed services panel's ranking Republican, Sen. John Warner. First, consider how much arrogance it takes to tell a fledgling democracy who should — and shouldn't...

"No one has the right to place timetables on the Iraq government. It was elected by its people," he said at a news conference in Damascus at the end of a three-day visit to Syria. "Those who make such statements are bothered by our visit to Syria. We will pay no attention. We care for our people and our constitution and can find friends elsewhere," Mr. al-Maliki said.

George Bush hints Iraqi PM must go By Alex Spillius in Washington Last Updated: 10:27pm BST 21/08/2007 President George W Bush yesterday signalled that his patience with the Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki had run out, suggesting that he should be voted from office before the country's security deteriorates further. Speaking at a trade summit in Canada, Mr Bush said: "There's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general. "The fundamental question is, will the government respond to the demands of the people? And if the government doesn't respond to the demands of the people, they will replace...

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will go to Iran today where he will hold talks on August 8 with Iranian officials on economic and political cooperation. The two countries have greatly expanded bilateral relations following the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime. RFE/RL Iraq analyst Kathleen Ridolfo discusses what al-Maliki hopes to achieve. RFE/RL: What is the purpose of al-Maliki's visit to Iran? Kathleen Ridolfo: This is al-Maliki's second visit to Iran since he took office and it comes within the context of bettering political relations and economic relations and -- of course more importantly -- securing relations between Iran and...

Tension has reached a boiling point between the U.S. military and the government of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki. The reason: after months of waiting for Al Maliki to act, the U.S. military has taken matters in its own hands to improve the security situation in Iraq. Al Maliki has bitterly opposed what he regards as U.S. freedom of action in operations throughout Iraq, Geostrategy-Direct.com reports. He objects to the recruitment of Sunni tribes to battle Al Qaida as well as the introduction of former Saddam Hussein generals to operate key military units. The Shi'ite prime minister has engaged in...

31 minutes ago BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces a revolt within his party by factions that want him out as Iraqi leader, according to officials in his office and the political party he leads. Ibrahim al-Jaafari, al-Maliki's predecessor, leads the challenge and already has approached leaders of the country's two main Kurdish parties, parliament's two Sunni Arab blocs and lawmakers loyal to powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Al-Jaafari's campaign, the officials said, was based on his concerns that al-Maliki's policies had led Iraq into turmoil because the prime minister was doing too little to promote national reconciliation. The...

<p>America's top general in Iraq yesterday quashed reports of a breakdown in his relationship with Iraq's prime minister over American support for Sunni Muslim fighters battling al-Qa'eda.</p> <p>General David Petraeus poured scorn on a claim by an Iraqi politician that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki requested his dismissal after bitter rows. "I don't know where that is coming from," Gen Petraeus said. "He and I have truly had frank conversations but he has never yelled or stood up. This is really, really hard stuff, and occasionally people agree to disagree."</p>

BAGHDAD -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave "any time they want," though he acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training. The embattled prime minister sought to show confidence at a time when congressional pressure is growing for a withdrawal and the Bush administration reported little progress had been made on the most vital of a series of political benchmarks it wants al-Maliki to carry out. Al-Maliki said difficulty in enacting the measures was "natural" given Iraq's turmoil. But one of...

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Vice President Dick Cheney makes an unannounced visit to Baghdad to press reconciliation among rival factions. MORE...

AN insurgent rocket today narrowly missed the Baghdad building where UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were holding a press conference to announce that the security situation in Iraq was improving. Mr al-Maliki opened the meeting by announcing that Iraq had ?made huge strides on the road toward stability,? while Mr Ban, on his first trip to Iraq, was full of enthusiasm. ?The situation in Iraq has improved,? he said, adding that he was considering increasing the UN presence in the country. As he was speaking, an explosion rocked the Prime Minister?s office, deep in...

This is disturning on many levels - LAX passenger hides objects in his body; bomb squad called His plane was diverted but deemed safe. The Iraqi national, a legal U.S. resident, said he was trying to ease stress. He is turned over to ICE. By Andrew Blankstein, Times Staff Writer March 7, 2007 Authorities called in the bomb squad early Tuesday and diverted a flight to Las Vegas after Los Angeles International Airport security screeners found hidden wires and other objects in a body cavity of a Philadelphia-bound passenger. Fadhel Al-Maliki, a 35-year-old Iraqi national living in Atlantic City, N.J.,...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An Iraqi national wearing wires and concealing a magnet inside his rectum triggered a security scare at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday but officials said he posed no apparent threat.

Authorities today detained an Iraqi national who was carrying a suspicious object at Los Angeles International's Terminal One. Los Angeles airport police held the man in a passenger screening area after security agents discovered at 5:40 a.m. that he was carrying a metal object, officials said. A preliminary investigation of the man's bags -- which were taken off a flight that was scheduled to go to Philadelphia but diverted to Las Vegas -- found nothing hazardous or dangerous, authorities said. The man has been turned over to Immigration and Customs authorities for additional questioning, officials said at an afternoon news...

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Officials detained an Iraqi man during a security scare at Los Angeles International airport on Tuesday but said a suspicious object found in a body cavity search did not pose a threat. The man, identified by law enforcement officials as Fadhel al-Maliki, 35, was detained at passenger screening at the airport just before 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The bomb squad was called as a precaution and authorities said they found wires in his clothing and a magnet inside a lower body cavity. The man was preparing to board a US Airways flight to Philadelphia. The...

An Iraqi national wearing wires and concealing a magnet inside his rectum triggered a security scare at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday but officials said he posed no apparent threat. The man, identified by law enforcement officials as Fadhel al-Maliki, 35, set off an alarm during passenger screening at the airport early on Tuesday morning. A police bomb squad was called to examine what was deemed a suspicious item found during a body cavity search of the man. Local media reports said a magnet was found in his rectum. "He was secreting these items in a body cavity and...

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said he will reshuffle his Cabinet within two weeks and pursue criminal charges against political figures linked to extremists. The move appears to be a sign of the government's resolve to restore stability during the U.S.-led security crackdown in Baghdad. Al-Maliki also said during an interview at his Green Zone office that Iraq will work hard to ensure the success of a regional security conference. The conference in Baghdad, tentatively set for next weekend, is expected to bring together all of Iraq's neighbors, including Iran and Syria, as well as the United States and Britain...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has traveled to Iraq for a quick fact-finding visit that will include a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

After Saddam Hussein was executed, the spokesman for President Nouri al-Maliki, Sami al-Askari, announced that Saddam's last words were: "Palestine is Arab." This was an attempt to refocus attention on Israel's battle for survival against Palestinian arab terrorists, and was entirely consistent with al-Maliki's announced support for Hezbollah. Unfortunately for Maliki and the rest of the evil-doers, the cellphone video was released shortly thereafter and demonstrated that the claim about Saddam's alleged comments about Israel were a blatantly false lie, a piece of propaganda. Once again, transparancy has been shown to be critically important. If this exposure assists in discrediting...

After Saddam Hussein was executed, the spokesman for President Nouri al-Maliki, Sami al-Askari, announced that Saddam's last words were: "Palestine is Arab." This was an attempt to refocus attention on Israel's battle for survival against Palestinian arab terrorists, and was entirely consistent with al-Maliki's announced support for Hezbollah. Unfortunately for Maliki and the rest of the evil-doers, the cellphone video was released shortly thereafter and demonstrated that the claim about Saddam's alleged comments about Israel were a blatantly false lie, a piece of propaganda. Once again, transparancy has been shown to be critically important. If this exposure assists in discrediting...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Major partners in Iraq's governing coalition are in behind-the-scenes talks to oust Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki amid discontent over his failure to quell raging violence, according to lawmakers involved. The talks are aimed at forming a new parliamentary bloc that would seek to replace the current government and that would likely exclude supporters of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who is a vehement opponent of the U.S. military presence. The new alliance would be led by senior Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who met with President Bush last week. Al-Hakim, however, was not expected to be the...

Major partners in Iraq's governing coalition are in behind-the-scenes talks to oust Prime al-Maliki amid discontent over his failure to quell raging violence, according to lawmakers involved. The talks are aimed at forming a new parliamentary bloc that would seek to replace the current government and that would likely exclude supporters of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who is a vehement opponent of the U.S. military presence. The new alliance would be led by senior Shiite politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who met with Bush last week. Al-Hakim, however, was not expected to be the next prime minister because he prefers...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faced a widening revolt within his divided government as two senior Sunni politicians joined prominent Shiite lawmakers and Cabinet members in criticizing his policies. Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi said he wanted to see al-Maliki's government gone and another "understanding" for a new coalition put in place with guarantees that ensure collective decision making. "There is a clear deterioration in security and everything is moving in the wrong direction," the Sunni leader told The Associated Press. "This situation must be redressed as soon as possible. If they continue, the country will plunge into...

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday he believed Iraqi forces would be ready by June 2007 to take full control of security in Iraq, an issue on which he pressed President Bush during their meeting in Amman, Jordan. In making the argument that his military and police could handle security in the country, al-Maliki has routinely said the force could do the job within six months. "I can say that Iraqi forces will be ready, fully ready to receive this command and to command its own forces, and I can tell you that by next June our forces will be...

President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki will be putting off their meeting by one day, the White House said Wednesday. The delay comes after the high-stakes summit was marred by public disclosure of U.S. doubts about al-Maliki's capacity to control sectarian violence and a walkout of Iraq's coalition government by 30 parliamentarians loyal to radical anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Five Cabinet ministers and 30 lawmakers suspended their participation in Parliament saying their action was necessary because the meeting in Jordan constituted a "provocation to the feelings of the Iraqi people and a violation of their constitutional rights." Their...

I will never forget the rage and overwhelming shame and sadness I felt as the last helicopter left Vietnam, after the liberal Democrats in Congress pulled the plug on our troops and turned an unbroken series of military victories into an inglorious defeat. They covered their dishonoring of 58,239 killed in action and 128,000 wounded in action by enlisting Walter Kronkite to help them spread the lie that American-South Vietnamese forces had lost the Tet offensive. Everyone now knows that the American Army won every engagement including Tet. Recent interviews with former North Vietnamese generals also confirm that a favorable...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The American death toll for October climbed past 100, a grim milestone reached as a top White House envoy turned up unexpectedly in Baghdad on Monday to smooth over a rough patch in U.S.-Iraqi ties. At least 80 people were killed across Iraq, 33 in a Sadr City bombing targeting workers. A member of the 89th Military Police Brigade was killed in east Baghdad Monday, and a Marine died in fighting in insurgent infested Anbar province the day before, raising to 101 the number of U.S. service members killed in a bloody October, the fourth deadliest month...

Excerpt - WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 — The Bush administration is drafting a timetable for the Iraqi government to address sectarian divisions and assume a larger role in securing the country, senior American officials said. Details of the blueprint, which is to be presented to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki before the end of the year and would be carried out over the next year and beyond, are still being devised. But the officials said that for the first time Iraq was likely to be asked to agree to a schedule of specific milestones, like disarming sectarian militias, and to a...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A political solution must be found to the problem of Iraq's sectarian violence that will lead to militias to "dissolve themselves," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday ahead of talks with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Al-Maliki is under intensified pressure to find an end to the Shiite-Sunni killings that have torn Iraq apart for months despite the government's calls for militias — many of which have ties to parties in the government — to put down their arms. On route to Baghdad on Thursday, Rice underlined that Iraq's leaders "don't have time for endless debate...

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2006 – Senior U.S. officials in Iraq are calling a four-point plan released yesterday by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to halt sectarian violence “a significant step in the right direction.” Maliki’s plan, released yesterday, aims at uniting Shiite and Sunni parties to reduce and ultimately stop growing sectarian violence that threatens Iraq. “This … shows that the Iraqi leaders want their country to succeed and are responding to the wishes of their people for security,” said U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad and Army Gen. George W. Casey, commander of Multinational Force Iraq, in a statement...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Lawmakers across party lines Tuesday endorsed the prime minister's new plan for stopping sectarian killings, but Shiite and Sunni leaders still must work out details of how to put aside sharp divisions and work together to halt the bloodshed. At least 33 people died in violence around Iraq, including a suicide attack on a fish market in Baghdad that killed three people and wounded 19. A bomber detonated a belt rigged with explosives in the outdoor market in the primarily Sunni area of Sadiyah in southwestern Baghdad, police Lt. Maitham Abdul Razzaq said. Meanwhile, the U.S. command...

Iraq's prime minister on Monday announced a new plan aimed at uniting the sharply divided Shiite and Sunni parties in his government behind efforts to stop rampant sectarian violence. Tensions were heightened Monday when gunmen seized 14 employees from computer stores in downtown Baghdad in the second mass kidnapping in as many days. Parliament also extended Iraq's state of emergency for a month. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki emerged with the four-point plan after talks with the top Sunni and Shiite leaders in his government, trying to prevent a crisis over rising tensions between the two Islamic sects. Under the plan,...

TEHRAN, Iran - Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has postponed his first official visit to Tehran for "technical reasons," officials said Sunday. Al-Maliki was supposed to visit Iran Monday. It was unclear how long his trip would be delayed. Iraq's ambassador to Iran, Mohammad Majid al-Sheikh, and Ali al-Adeeb, a legislator and senior member with al-Maliki's Dawa party, confirmed that the trip had been postponed, with both citing "technical reasons." They did not elaborate. Meanwhile, iran's state-run Islamic Republic News Agency quoted unidentified Foreign Ministry officials as saying that talks were still under way with Iraqi officials to set a...

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- An al-Qaida-affiliated group Thursday branded the Iraqi government offers of reconciliation as "futile'' and called on Sunnis to fight those who "legalized the shedding of Muslim blood.'' The statement appeared on a Web site used by the Mujahedeen Shura Council, an umbrella organization of Sunni extremist groups that includes al-Qaida in Iraq. The statement said Sunnis in Iraq were facing aggressive attacks by the government and the Shiite militias and called for resistance. "The Shiite attacks on the Sunni people have been intensified these days especially in the northern parts of the capital which included mortar...

US military defends Baghdad raid slammed by PM Wed Aug 9, 10:30 AM ET The US military defended itself against criticism by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of a raid on a crowded Baghdad suburb which culminated in a deadly air strike. The army had said the Sunday night assault by Iraqi troops and US advisers was aimed at arresting the head of a suspected kidnap-and-torture cell. But Maliki called it "unjustified" and said he had not approved it. Major General William Caldwell told reporters that Iraqi commanders had taken the lead in launching the operation, with the support...

A Shiite Muslim political leader said Friday that rumors were circulating of an impending coup attempt against the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and warned that "we will not allow it." A new government would mean "canceling the constitution, canceling the results of the elections and going back to square one . . . and we will not accept that," he said. Amiri is also a top official in the Badr Organization, the armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which is the leading member of a coalition of Shiite political parties governing...

The government of Iraq is secretly holding a Baathist cabal of military officers it claims attempted a coup against Prime Minister al-Maliki. The plotters were rounded up July 5 with the help of American military authorities after the Iraqi government's security warning center sent word to Mr. Maliki, who was in Kuwait on his first official visit as head of state, two highly placed Iraqi sources said. The prime minister quickly canceled a scheduled trip to Amman, Jordan, and returned to Baghdad to attend to the matter. At the time, Mr. Maliki's staff told reporters that the prime minister was...

WASHINGTON -- New York lawmakers led a boycott Wednesday of the Iraqi prime minister's speech to Congress, furious that he still has not condemned Hezbollah's actions against Israel. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton did attend the speech, but her hopes to hear him take such a stand were dashed.

Al-Maliki was interrupted briefly by a shouting demonstrator wearing a pink T-shirt that read, "Troops Home Now." The young woman was lifted from her seat by officers and carried out of the House visitor's gallery, while al-Maliki paused and grimaced in irritation.

Today, President Bush welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki in the Oval Office at the White House, and together they held a joint press availability in the East Room, speaking of a plan to increase the military presence and quell the violence in Baghdad.Later today, the President met with Minni Arcua Minnawi, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) leader in the Oval Office to discuss the Darfur region in western Sudan.Enjoy your trip to Sanity Island on the Daily Dose!

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor Contact: Ron Bonjean or Lisa C. Miller, 202-225-2800, both for House Speaker Dennis Hastert News Advisory: WHAT: Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to address a Joint Meeting of Congress. WHEN: Wednesday, July 26th 2006 at 11 a.m. EDTWHERE: U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Capitol http://www.usnewswire.com/ -0- /© 2006 U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/

In break with U.S., Iraqi leader assails Israel By Edward Wong and Michael Slackman The New York TimesPublished: July 19, 2006 BAGHDAD, Iraq Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki of Iraq on Wednesday forcefully denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon, marking a sharp break with President George W. Bush's position and highlighting the growing power of a Shiite Muslim identity across the Middle East.   "The Israeli attacks and airstrikes are completely destroying Lebanon's infrastructure," Maliki said at an afternoon news conference inside the fortified Green Zone, which houses the American embassy and the seat of the Iraqi government. "I...

Iraq PM again talks of revisiting immunity Laws that give foreign troops immunity from domestic prosecution should be reviewed because U.S. soldiers sometimes act knowing that they are protected from punishment, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Wednesday. "Those who are free from being punished misbehave and they have misbehaved a lot. They misbehaved in Mahmoudiya, in Sadr City, in Abu Ghraib and in Haditha," al-Maliki said, referring to places where U.S. troops have been accused of abusing or killing Iraqis. Al-Maliki was responding to a question by a female legislator about the alleged March 12 rape and killing of...

Without saying so in public Iraq's new Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has given himself 100 days to achieve what his entourage describe as "the beginnings of a turnaround" in the newly liberated country. His success could determine the course of events in Iraq for months, if not years, to come. Al-Maliki's plan, presented under the slogan "Together, Forward", has three key objectives. The first is to get the institutions of government, starting with the newly elected parliament and the Council of Ministers, working. This might seem odd to those who take a functioning government for granted. In post-liberation Iraq, however,...

A buddy of mine came over to my place tonight to celebrate the take-out of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He's on his way to Baghdad to be an advisor to Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Malaki. "What advice do you think I should give him, Jack?" he asked me over too much Famous Grouse Scotch. Here's what I told him: "Well, the very first thing he should do is hang Saddam. Get the trial over with tomorrow, take Saddam and every one of his cronies on trial out into the bright Baghdad sunshine and publicly hang the bastards on world-wide television. Then...

BAGHDAD -- The completion of the national unity government Thursday in Iraq marks the starting point for repaying Iraqis' commitment to and thirst for democracy. We are at this juncture thanks to the bravery of the soldiers, police and citizens who have paid the highest price to give Iraq its freedom. Our national unity government will honor these sacrifices by pursuing an uncompromising agenda to deliver security and services to the Iraqi people and to combat rampant corruption. This government will build on the additional momentum gained from the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in order to defeat terrorism and...

BAGHDAD, June 3 (Reuters) - Iraq vowed on Saturday to press on with its own probe into the deaths of civilians in a U.S. raid on the town of Ishaqi, rejecting the U.S. military's exoneration of its forces. Adnan al-Kazimi, an aide to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said the government would also demand an apology from the United States and compensation for the victims in several cases, including the alleged massacre in the town of Haditha last year. "We have from more than one source that the Ishaqi killings were carried out under questionable circumstances. More than one child was...

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A military investigation into allegations that U.S. troops intentionally killed Iraqi civilians in a March raid in Ishaqi, a village north of Baghdad, has cleared the troops of misconduct, the military said Friday — despite dramatic video footage of slain children. Meanwhile, a lawyer representing families of some of the two dozen unarmed Iraqi civilians allegedly killed by U.S. Marines in the western town of Haditha on Nov. 19 said three or four Marines carried out the shootings while 20 more waited outside the homes. He also said victims' relatives turned down a request by U.S. investigators...

by Mark Finkelstein May 25, 2006 With the Yankees fresh from taking two-out-of-three from the Red Sox, why not a NewsBuster double-header this morning? In the opener, with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in Washington for talks with President Bush, Today did its best to rain on any good news emerging from Iraq. NBC White House reporter David Gregory obseved that "two leaders who have paid a heavy political price for launching the war in Iraq will stand together tonight before the country to argue there is new reason for hope." A hope that Gregory was quick to seek dash....