BAGHDAD, Aug. 9 (UPI) -- Despite democratic reforms, Iraqis, shattered by sectarian violence, have begun to think about partitioning the country as a solution.
Support for partition has come largely from leaders of Iraq's powerful Shiite Muslim political bloc, who say it will help separate the warring sects, The Los Angeles Times reports.
Shiites have long sought some sort of autonomy for their southern stronghold, similar to the Kurds' in the north, the report said.
"We will do it just like Kurdistan. We will put soldiers along the frontiers," said Khudair Khuzai, the Shiite education minister.
But some advocates of partition say federalism is only one of the tools under consideration.
The partition concept is seen by most Sunni leaders as Shiite greed to use the violence for an oil grab as the Shiite stronghold in the south has 60 percent of Iraq's proven oil reserves.
