SUNNI ARAB LEADERS AGREE TO ALLIANCE WITH KURDS,

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 005145 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/27/2015 TAGS: PGOV IZ SUBJECT: SUNNI ARAB LEADERS AGREE TO ALLIANCE WITH KURDS, SEEK UN INVESTIGATION ON ELECTION COMPLAINTS Classified By: Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad for Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) In a telephone conversation on December 26, List 731 leaders Ayad Allawi and Adnan Pachachi informed the Ambassador of their meeting on December 25 with the representatives from Saleh Mutlak's National Dialog Front, Khalaf al-Ayyan and Adnan Dulaymi of the Tawaffuq, and others. Allawi and Pachachi reported that all had agreed on four basic points: - To ask the UN for an investigation into the allegations of election fraud; - To talk to the Arab League about also investigating the elections; - To form an alliance with the Kurds, as a precursor to forming a national unity government; - To allow Allawi to deal with outside parties when necessary. ¶2. (C) According to Pachachi and Allawi, the Sunni Arabs looked at their options - boycott the political process, join an opposition, or join the broad coalition with Allawi and the Kurds - and opted for the broad coalition. ¶3. (C) Pachachi informed the Ambassador that he had called the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan about the need for an investigation. The UNSG replied that he would wait for a written request to be formally submitted. ¶4. (C) According to Pachachi and Allawi, Khalaf al-Ayyan has been sent to Cairo from Amman to speak with the Arab League about the allegations of election fraud. The Ambassador expressed his concern about the Arab League's involvement, stating that the Arab League had no particular expertise in regard to monitoring elections. He also noted that an Arab League investigation might make it more difficult for the Shia or the Government of Iraq to accept the results as impartial or conclusive. KHALILZAD