Planning minister blocking Sunni return

BAGHDAD, July 3 (UPI) -- The fate of the Iraqi planning minister is unknown as top officials sidestep issues seen delaying the return of the main Sunni bloc to the government.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, the main Sunni political bloc, said Thursday the party would rejoin the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after a near yearlong absence. The IAF tabled a list of ministerial candidates earlier this year to prepare for the return but withdrew the list over contentions surrounding Ali Baban, the current Iraqi planning minister.

The IAF withdrew from the government over a series of political disputes. Ali Baban, who was with the IAF, refused to step down, and his current role in the Maliki government is seen as the major obstacle to the return of the Sunni coalition.

In a statement Thursday, Baban said he will leave any decision regarding his presence in the Maliki government up to the prime minister, noting the IAF had not stated his resignation was delaying its return, Voices of Iraq reported.

"I will not resign from the government. I will leave the matter to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who will be politically and morally responsible for such a decision," he said.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, however, said the decision was not a matter for the prime minister to decide.

"Maliki cannot ethically sack the planning minister due to the demand of Iraqi Accordance Front," the spokesman said, adding, "The resignation is up to the current planning minister, Ali Baban."

Dabbagh said the Iraqi Parliament would consider the latest IAF list of Cabinet ministers soon.