Baghdad stampede shakes Iraqi Govt

The unity of Iraq's Government has been thrown into disarray after the Health Minister publicly demanded the resignation of two cabinet colleagues over the Baghdad stampede that killed almost 1,000 Shiites.

His comments once again exposed the deep divisions within the Cabinet, just days after Shiites and Kurds failed to reach agreement with the Sunnis over Iraq's new constitution.

Abdul Mutalib Mohammed Ali, seen as close to the radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, said the ministers of the interior and defence should quit for failing to ensure the security of the Shiite pilgrims who were pouring towards a shrine in Baghdad when the tragedy struck.

"I hold my colleagues in the ministries of interior and defence responsible for what happened today," he said.

"I call upon my colleagues in the interior and defence to either bear full responsibility or resign."

Interior Minister Bayan Baqer Soulagh retorted that his forces were not responsible for the area were the drama took place, saying it was the job of his Defence Minister Saddun al-Dulaimi.

Mr al-Dulaimi holds one of the nine posts given to Sunnis in the Iraqi Government, which has 18 Shiites, eight Kurds and a Christian.

Mr Ali said a 30 kilometre diameter security cordon should have been established around the area, commenting that the two ministries had sufficient forces to put this in place.

Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari later rejected the accusations, claiming the security measures taken by the two ministries made the rebels' task difficult and rebuked Mr Ali for making his comments in public.

"I thank my two brothers the Defence Minister and the Interior Minister for their efforts ... terrorists had to resort to fire mortars from a distance because of security measures," he said.

Eight mortar bombs landed near the Kadhimiya mosque killing seven people and wounding dozens a few hours before the stampede occurred, when pilgrims massed for a ceremony commemorating the death of Imam Mussa Kazim.

"It is not in our style of the Government to exchange accusations on television screens. I do not accept this," Mr Jaafari said in a joint press conference with the US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.

Mr Jaafari promised that an investigation will take place to assess security and organisational measures taken for the religious festival.

"There will be an assessment of the performance after the mourning period," he said.

-AFP

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