Iraq PM Maliki says will soon reshuffle cabinet

Baghdad, Mar 4: Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Malikisaid he would announce a long-awaited cabinet reshuffle within twoweeks, a move expected to replace under-performing ministers.

Maliki said in a television interview the changes would beunveiled ''either this week or next''. He has been pledging a shake-upof his national unity government for several months.

Maliki has been pushing ahead with a new U S-backed security plan in Baghdad.

Shi'ite officials have said his government could collapse if thecrackdown fails to put a brake on sectarian violence that threatens toplunge Iraq into full-scale civil war.

Maliki did not give any hints about who he would replace in hiscabinet, which is mostly made up of members of Shi'ite, ethnic Kurd andSunni Arab parties.

The prime minister said he would also carry out a change in the ''ministerial structure''. He did not elaborate.

In early November, Maliki called for a ''comprehensive'' reshuffle''to send a message to all ministers that they may be replaced if theydon't succeed''.

He had said then he would not necessarily stick to ''quotas'' ofcabinet posts according to parties' strength in parliament but wouldappoint those competent for their tasks -- something Iraq badly needs,with its potentially oil-rich economy still in a morass and itsministries accused of rampant corruption.

The nearly three-week old offensive in Baghdad has sharply reducedthe number of death squad killings, although car bombs still exploderegularly. U.S. commanders say it will take months for the plan toproduce concrete results.

In the meantime, violence has surged on Baghdad's fringes, especially in western Anbar province.

Reuters>