SHOUTING MATCH ERUPTS IN PARLIAMENT OVER FALLUJAH

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAMA 001707 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/10/2014 TAGS: PGOV PREL BA IZ SUBJECT: SHOUTING MATCH ERUPTS IN PARLIAMENT OVER FALLUJAH STATEMENT Classified by DCM Susan L. Ziadeh for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) Shia and Sunni deputies in the Council of Representatives (COR) engaged in a heated shouting match November 9 during debate over a statement condemning the U.S. attack in Fallujah. Twenty-four of the 40 COR members forwarded a written request to issue a statement to chairman Khalifa Al Dhahrani, who called for discussion of the issue. The Ambassador, who had just met with the leadership of the Shura Council, the appointed upper house of parliament, witnessed the fracas from the visitors balcony. ¶2. (U) The head of the Islamic bloc (Shia),Ali Samaheji, took the floor and called the insurgents in Fallujah "merciless killers and terrorists." He continued, "We should focus on backing others who are in real distress and not a bunch of criminals who are causing chaos and destruction in Iraq." He asked why the COR should issue a statement condemning the attack when the Interim Iraqi Government supported it. By the passing the resolution, they are interfering in the internal affairs of another Arab country. Dhahrani tried to bring the matter to a vote, but Independent bloc president Abdul Aziz Al Moussa demanded that Samaheji first withdraw his "insulting" remarks. Others jumped into the fray, shouting and calling each other "childish" and "irrational." The COR eventually issued the statement. ¶3. (C) Comment: The controversy broke down along sectarian lines. The Sunnis members, concerned about their co-religionists in Fallujah, pushed for and succeeded in getting the statement condemning the attack. Only the Islamic bloc, the sole Shia grouping in the COR, opposed. In August, while the conflict in (Shia) Najaf was underway, Bahrainis of both sects supported a COR statement against the American role there and several Sunni leaders joined in Shia marches against the U.S. action. Shia deputies do not feel the same need to close ranks on the Fallujah situation because they consider the insurgents there to be foreign terrorists, not Iraqis. MONROE