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