Iraq interior ministry nomination stalls as PM al-Zamdi, Maliki disagree

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's Interior Ministry nomination has become the latest flashpoint between Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani's government and the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki. Prime Minister Ali al-Zamdi, who leads the Isra Party that formed the government, has rejected the candidates put forward by Maliki, saying they do not meet the requirements for one of the country's most sensitive portfolios. Instead, al-Zamdi wants the ministry to be run on an acting basis under the direct supervision of the Commander-in-Chief's Office of the Armed Forces. Maliki's coalition is itself divided over potential nominees, with internal discussions involving Qasim Atta, Qais al-Muhammadawi, Yassin al-Yasiri and Ahmed al-Haffaji. Parliamentary sources said the next interior minister must secure broad acceptance not only from political blocs but also from security circles. If no agreement is reached, Abdul Amir al-Shammari could remain in the post or the file could be handled through a different arrangement. Al-Zamdi has argued that completing the cabinet should not become a power-distribution bargaining chip, while Maliki maintains that the ministry is a fixed share of his coalition. No further details were immediately available on the timeline for resolving the dispute.