Atheel al-Nujaifi is critical of outgoing PM Maliki, who is trying to find allies among Kurds and radical Shia. For the governor, who is Sunni, the country could slide into dictatorship. However, sectarian violence is not likely to happen because “people are really tired of that kind of thing." In Baghdad, pro-Allawi Sunni bloc signals some openness towards Maliki, saying that it is prepared to back the latter in exchange for its man in a presidency with enhanced powers.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The “last chance for democracy” in Iraq could fail if Shia Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, insists on keeping his job despite losing to a Sunni-backed coalition in the elections of seven months ago, Nineveh Governor Atheel al-Nujaifi warns. Iraq, he claims, is "headed for a dictatorship" if the outgoing premier hangs on to power by making alliances with hard-line Shia factions and Kurds. However, some Sunnis have signalled some flexibility towards Maliki, saying they might back him if Allawi gets the presidency with expanded powers. Allawi’s coalition came in first in the 7 March parliamentary elections but fell far short of an overall majority.

“This is the last chance for democracy in Iraq,” said Atheel al-Nujaifi in a recent interview with the Associated Press. He is the Sunni governor of a province in northern Iraq whose capital Mosul has been the scene of a bloody fight between Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen.

Democracy could fail in Iraq because despite his defeat at the ballot box, Maliki insists on hanging onto power with the support of the Kurds and Shia fundamentalists.

Recently, radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr proposed a temporary deal to the outgoing prime minister (pictured), a prospect that worries Washington. The Americans have always been opposed to Sadr and his movement.

From his office in downtown Mosul, Nujaifi, a leader in the secular-oriented Iraqiya party confirmed the deep suspicions and frustrations of Iraq's once-dominant Sunnis, who lost their privileges with Saddam's fall but had hopes of regaining a significant political voice after the narrow victory of a pro-Sunni coalition in last March's parliamentary elections.

For his part, Maliki has stepped up appeals to top Sunni leaders to join talks over the next government but has so far met a wall of silence.

Nevertheless, widespread sectarian violence will not make a comeback, Governor Nujaifi said because “people are really tired of that kind of thing."

In Mosul, like in oil-rich Kirkuk and other “sensitive” areas of Iraq, Kurds and Arabs are still vying for control and this has left a legacy of death and destruction.

Sunni leaders in Baghdad appear more open to the outgoing prime minister if their leader takes over a presidency with greater powers.

Under the current constitution, the presidency is largely a ceremonial office. Under new rules, the president would be given a role in foreign policy, defence and energy sectors.

If this were agreed to, the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc would stop its opposition to a Maliki government, thus putting to an end the seven-month impasse that has prevented Iraq from getting a government.

The new government would include Sunnis and Shia as well as Iraq’s two main political leaders: Nouri al-Maliki and Ayad Allawi.

To succeed himself, Maliki needs the support of more than half of the 325-member National Assembly. At present, he can count on 132 votes, plus 32 that should ensure him an absolute majority.

If this happens and Allawi becomes president, Kurds would be out in the cold. Until now, a Kurd, Jalal Talabani, served as head of state.

There would still be a problem. Under such a deal, Shias would occupy both presidency and the prime minister’s office.

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