07.09.10 Iraq Focus
Hung parliament poses security threat
Iraq's Oil and Electricity Minister Hussein al-Shahristani has expressed concern that the country's political deadlock poses a security
threat. The minister said that insurgents are exploiting the absence of a new
government, and are killing hundreds of people each month.
Hussein al-Shahristani said that bombers have been able to exploit political
differences to carry out all manner of criminal activity. Only days ago 12
people
were killed in a daylight raid by suicide bombers on an army base in Baghdad.
"The security could have been handled more firmly. Now the terrorists are
hoping that by having these political differences they can penetrate through
the
cracks in the political system," said the minister.
Iraqi voters went to cast their votes on 7th March, but returned a hung parliament. Six months on, there is still no
government and politicians are no closer to reaching a decision.
Source: BBC News
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