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BAGHDAD, Iraq - A Sunni Arab politician said Tuesday that two insurgent groups were willing to negotiate with the government, possibly opening a new political front in embattled Iraq. But a string of coordinated deadly bombings signaled that militants remain fierce.
The former Cabinet minister said he had established contact with the groups which account for a large part of the Sunni insurgents and were responsible for attacks against Iraqis and foreigners, including assassinations and kidnappings.
It was the first public disclosure that such negotiations might be in the offing with specific groups, but independent confirmation was not possible. Al-Jaafari’s government declined comment. advertisementhttp://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gifOAS_AD(‘BoxAd’)http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif
At least 32 lives were claimed in the day’s violence, which included four explosions within seven minutes in and around Hawija, 40 miles southwest of Kirkuk, and the killings of a Sunni cleric and a foreign ministry employee. The fatalities pushed the death toll to 879 in the 5 1/2 weeks since the government was formed.
Former electricity minister Ayham al-Samarie told the Associated Press the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Army of Mujahedeen, or holy warriors, were ready to open talks with the Shiite-led government aimed at eventually joining the political process.
The claim appears consistent with comments from a senior Shiite legislator, Hummam Hammoudi, who told the AP last week the government had opened indirect channels of communication with some insurgent groups.
The contacts were “becoming more promising and they give us reason to continue,” Hammoudi said without providing details.
Samarie, an Illinois Institute of Technology graduate who holds dual U.S. and Iraqi citizenship, said the two groups represent more than 50 percent of the “resistance.” He excluded the al-Qaida in Iraq, which has carried out attacks and is headed by a non-Iraqi, Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
U.S. military officials believe about 12,000 to 20,000 fighters, including supporters, make up the insurgency.
Samarie said he began contacting insurgent political leaders about five months ago. He did not meet any field commanders, he said, but would not name those he contacted or say who else joined in the meetings.
“Guns will not solve the problem. Guns never solved any problems; it’s always politics that solves problems,” he said. “How can they (the government) solve the problem without talking to the resistance? The resistance exists and everyone knows it exists.”
azcentral.com/news/articles/0608iraq-main08.html
The former Cabinet minister said he had established contact with the groups which account for a large part of the Sunni insurgents and were responsible for attacks against Iraqis and foreigners, including assassinations and kidnappings.
It was the first public disclosure that such negotiations might be in the offing with specific groups, but independent confirmation was not possible. Al-Jaafari’s government declined comment. advertisementhttp://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gifOAS_AD(‘BoxAd’)http://www.azcentral.com/imgs/clear.gif
At least 32 lives were claimed in the day’s violence, which included four explosions within seven minutes in and around Hawija, 40 miles southwest of Kirkuk, and the killings of a Sunni cleric and a foreign ministry employee. The fatalities pushed the death toll to 879 in the 5 1/2 weeks since the government was formed.
Former electricity minister Ayham al-Samarie told the Associated Press the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Army of Mujahedeen, or holy warriors, were ready to open talks with the Shiite-led government aimed at eventually joining the political process.
The claim appears consistent with comments from a senior Shiite legislator, Hummam Hammoudi, who told the AP last week the government had opened indirect channels of communication with some insurgent groups.
The contacts were “becoming more promising and they give us reason to continue,” Hammoudi said without providing details.
Samarie, an Illinois Institute of Technology graduate who holds dual U.S. and Iraqi citizenship, said the two groups represent more than 50 percent of the “resistance.” He excluded the al-Qaida in Iraq, which has carried out attacks and is headed by a non-Iraqi, Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
U.S. military officials believe about 12,000 to 20,000 fighters, including supporters, make up the insurgency.
Samarie said he began contacting insurgent political leaders about five months ago. He did not meet any field commanders, he said, but would not name those he contacted or say who else joined in the meetings.
“Guns will not solve the problem. Guns never solved any problems; it’s always politics that solves problems,” he said. “How can they (the government) solve the problem without talking to the resistance? The resistance exists and everyone knows it exists.”
azcentral.com/news/articles/0608iraq-main08.html