Sadrist pullout draws mixed reaction

The withdrawal of the Sadrist bloc's six ministers from the Iraqi government earlier this week has drawn mixed reactions from the region's media.

A number of Iraqi papers have welcomed the move, saying it gives Prime Minister Nouri Maliki a stronger hand in allocating ministries. But elsewhere commentators see the move as a setback for the political process in Iraq, and there is speculation about Iran's role in the development.

Iranian papers meanwhile predict that the decision will prove troublesome for the US.

EDITORIAL in IRAQ'S AL-DUSTUR

The courage displayed by the Sadrists in the political arena requires a similar response from others to take their hands off the state ministries that have turned into partisan districts and closed circles for certain sects and ethnic groups, and to give the prime minister enough time and a free hand to choose the team qualified to undertake its responsibility.

MURTADA AL-SHAHTUR in IRAQ'S AL-ZAMAN

Finally, the Sadr Movement decided to withdraw from [Nouri] Maliki's government in a major, inspiring precedent... We have never seen a minister or even a director-general quitting his post, nor have we witnessed a minister protesting against an issue, heading for the government office and announcing his resignation... Sadr has sent a good national message by giving the prime minister full power to select replacements.

COMMENTARY in IRAN'S KEYHAN

Moqtada Sadr's decision to withdraw from the Iraqi government has prompted a lot of questions among experts and politicians... The Americans should look forward to more problems and difficulties from now on, because an influential political group that has refrained from anger for a long time wants to oppose more seriously the US plans in the country.

EDITORIAL in SAUDI AL-WATAN

The Sadr trend's official announcement of withdrawal from the Iraqi government under the pretext of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for 'occupation troops' withdrawal constitutes a setback for the defaulting political process in the country... The picture of the fragmenting Iraqi scene has been completed to the extent that one can say that all necessary conditions for the breaking out of a civil war in Iraq have become available as never before.

COMMENTARY in JORDAN'S AL-DUSTUR

Iranians are angry with Maliki... Iran realises that what is happening on the ground in Iraq, the Arab world and the region is taking place against the backdrop of arrangements for military aggression against it, and therefore it will not accept its Iraqi allies' involvement in a game like this... What is going on has directly to do with Iran and its coming battle with Washington. It seems that the Sadr trend is its spearhead in this confrontation.

COMMENTARY in JORDAN'S AL-GHAD

It is difficult to believe the announced pretext for the resignation... Apparently Iran is distributing the roles and the Sadr trend is playing the role of the spearhead against the Americans. Given this background, it is not strange that the Mehdi army becomes the spearhead against Sunnis as well.

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