A senior Shiite source confirmed on 15 January that the supreme religious authority in Najaf had given green light to change the course of rule in the country.  The source stressed that this means replacing the Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki himself should he decline compliance to the initiative.  Al-Maliki should pledge not to run for a third term, implement the Erbil Agreement entirely, and to stop manipulation of judicial power, the source explained.

The source disclosed to Almada daily newspaper that the delegation of Al-Maliki to the supreme religious authority, Hussein Al-Shahristani and Abdulhaleem Al-Zohairi, came back terrified from Najaf due to what they had heard there and that Al-Maliki was taken to the hospital when he received the news.  The source pointed out that the supreme religious authority warned that any civil war might lead to division within the army whose officers could turn their backs on their general commander (the Prime Minister). From its side, Iran is very angered of Al-Maliki because he is getting the country involved by dragging it into new frontlines, which will be a heavy burden.

The source believes that the religious authority strongly supports the dialogue called by wise Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds to find radical solutions for the current crisis.

Senior sources of the National Shiite Alliance disclosed earlier to Almada that the supreme religious authority confirmed to Al-Maliki’s delegates, Al-Shahristani and Al-Zohairi, that dissolving the parliament is a red line and that any political interpretation of article 64 of the constitution is basically not acceptable and could endanger the security of the country as well as the political process.  The religious authority expressed discontent of monopolizing the rule of the country and stressed the necessity that the National Alliance itself addresses the issues of the crisis and that they should not be resolved by any person or by any individual.  Dissatisfaction was also expressed by the religious authority about the on going multi-level political escalation, tense atmospheres, targeting political figures by inciting crisis and extra-judiciary procedures, which would have undesirable consequences for the country.    

In this context, the senior Shiite source told Almada on 15 January, “given the green light of the religious authority, there are three scenarios: the first is resignation of Al-Maliki upon order of the National Alliance; the second is Al-Maliki should pledge not to run for a third term and that he in the meantime should implement the Erbil agreement, hold investigations into corrupt officials and stop unilateral control of judiciary power. The third scenario would be that Al-Maliki incites civil war by targeting demonstrations and sit-ins, and dissolves the constitution and the parliament.

The senior Shiite source told Almada on the condition of anonymity that he believes that the second scenario would resolve the position of the Sunnis and achieve justice to them as demanded by Najaf religious authority (leadership). “A change of Al-Maliki’s rule is a must now,” the source resumed.

New details of the meeting held early this week between the government delegation and representatives of the religious authority were disclosed by the source who said that the deputy prime minister Hussein Al-Shahristani and the adviser of the prime minister Abdulhaleem Al-Zohairi returned terrified back to Baghdad and conveyed the harshest words which Al-Maliki had ever heard and he was taken to the hospital afterwards.   

The source confirmed, “Washington and Tehran are angry about Al-Maliki’s behaviour and his unilateral control of power.” He also indicated, “Iran considers that Al-Maliki has turned Iraq into an additional burden, which is already overweight due to responsibilities and conflicts extending from the Mediterranean into Central Africa.” The source pointed out that Iran won’t intervene militarily to support the Shiites of Iraq should a conflict take place, because Washington has assisted in the establishment of Sunni militia’s like the Free Army that are capable of intervention to assist Sunnis in Iraq and go into fierce fighting with the Iraqi army.” The source reiterated, “Iran cannot sell more than 30% of its oil this year and thereupon won’t be able to defend Al-Maliki.”  The source confirmed that Iraqi high ranking officers and soldiers will divide should a civil war take place because they’re not willing to get involved in any “adventures of the general commander of the armed forces”.

The religious supreme authority is very angry of corruption in Al-Maliki’s office, and that a driver of the escort of Al-Maliki is involved in electricity power deals, the source pointed out, adding that a change of rule, according to what the religious authority demands, requires replacing Al-Maliki and his military and political team who lack experience in dealing with the issues of the country, contrary to the team of advisers of Moqtada Al-Sadr.

The Shiite senior source warned, “failure of the dialogue between political powers and division of Iraq will make Iraq as a whole, not only the Shiites alone, a soft target to neighbouring countries.” He added that “keeping the unity of Iraq entails that wise Shiite leaders initiate responsible dialogue with the Kurds and Sunnis”, which is an issue wisely recognized by the religious supreme leadership of Najaf but not recognized by the Prime Minister. 

It is said that the religious authority had previously given the National Alliance the responsibility for bringing justice to Sunnis, because it is the bloc responsible for holding dialogue on partnership and joint rule of the country. 

Translation: The Outsider