US 'declaration' a setback for Maliki
Just when things were going so well, Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki finds himself in trouble following his reluctant decision to sign a US-authored "declaration of principles", which includes a ban on all militias. Critics call the declaration "flawed and ambiguous" as it has no timetable for a US withdrawal, and the Sadrists are seething. - Sami Moubayed (Nov 30, '07)