Iraqi resistance groups agree to co-ordinate insurgent attacks

TEN IRAQI resistance groups have agreed to unite and co-ordinate attacks on US and Iraqi forces.

The move comes in response to the Maliki government's consideration of the latest version of a pact extending the US troop presence in Iraq through 2011.

Joint action was announced by Shaikh Abu Wael of the Ansar al-Sunnah faction who said: "Such agreements are not negated by mere condemnations and denunciations. Rather, there is necessity for work, jihad, fighting the enemy and their loyalists to compel them to abort the agreement."

Ansar al-Sunnah, established by former Iraqi army officers in 2003, is one of the oldest of the insurgent groups.

On Tuesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said US revisions to the draft status of forces agreement (Sofa) "are not enough" and requested further amendments. While US officials argue the current text is "final", they expect haggling to continue up to the end of year deadline.

Most parliamentary factions either seek changes in the current draft or prefer extending the UN mandate for foreign troops rather than reaching a bilateral agreement. Such a deal is rejected by a majority of Iraqis who want US forces to depart as soon as possible. Political parties and legislators are wary of the forces agreement because they could suffer losses in the January 31st provincial polls and the general election due by the end of 2009.

Prime minister Nuri al-Maliki has also proposed amendments to the 2005 Iraqi constitution, reducing the powers of provinces and regions. Although he was a member of the committee which drafted the post-war constitution, Mr Maliki argues that its adoption was too hurried and nearly half of its 139 provisions need to be changed. However, his main coalition partners, the Kurds and the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council oppose strengthening the central government at the expense of provincial and regional centres.

The Kurds enjoy considerable self-rule in three northern provinces they control, while the council seeks to fuse nine provinces in an autonomous Shia region in the south. Although Mr Maliki is against devolution, he is also well aware that there is popular opposition to deals reached by the Kurds for US bases and for oil exploitation in their region.

By taking a tough stand on the forces agreement and pressing hard for changes to the constitution, analysts say Mr Maliki shows himself to be a strong leader. They say he portrays himself as prepared to stand up to the US, which is pressing him hard to reach an accommodation, and to the Kurds whose demands for near independence and regional expansion Iraqi Arabs resent and reject.