9.4 | June 2005 to May 2006

684. A review of the UK’s Sunni outreach efforts dated 21 April concluded that “a wide

range of Sunni politicians are now involved in the politics around government formation,

and a swathe of Sunnis with links to the nationalist insurgency have direct contact with

the coalition”.326

685. Those developments were not necessarily a direct consequence of the UK’s

efforts, but there was a belief that the UK had contributed.

686. Late on 21 April, the United Iraqi Alliance announced the selection of Mr Nuri

al‑Maliki from the Dawa party as its candidate for Prime Minister.327

687. Mr Patey told the Inquiry that Mr Maliki was a “surprise candidate” for the UK.328

688. Mr Asquith said that the UK had missed him as a potential contender because he

was not a prominent political figure in the Dawa party, and had occupied no position

in which the UK had to deal with him.329 Section 9.3 contains more information on the

Dawa party.

689. In Mr Asquith’s view, Mr Maliki was selected because the supporters of the other

candidates would not switch their votes to alternatives, except for him.330

690. The BBC reported President Bush’s congratulations for this “milestone on Iraq’s

path to democracy”.331

691. President Talabani was elected to a second term in post and Mr Blair spoke to him

on 24 April to offer his congratulations.332

692. Mr Blair “hoped that the rest of the Government could now be formed quickly – this

would bring a renewed sense of hope to Iraq”. President Talabani estimated that it would

take two weeks to finalise the Ministerial team.

693. Sir Nigel Sheinwald visited Baghdad from 22 to 25 April and urged senior Iraqi

politicians to move quickly to complete the formation of the Government. It would then

“need to set out a positive vision – communicating this effectively to its own people and

to the international community – including on security”.333

694. Mr Patey reported that the visit was “a timely opportunity to urge the politicians to

seize this moment to give real momentum to the political process after months of delay”.

326 Letter senior government official specialising in the Middle East to Banner, 21 April 2006, ‘[…]:

Way Ahead’.

327 eGram 13011/06 Baghdad to FCO London, 24 April 2006, ‘Iraq: Formation of the New Government:

Al‑Maliki Nominated by UIA as Prime Minister’.

328 Public hearing, 5 January 2010, page 37.

329 Private hearing, 15 June 2010, pages 21-22.

330 Private hearing, 15 June 2010, page 22.

331 BBC News, 22 April 2006, Maliki endorsed as new Iraqi PM.

332 Letter Phillipson to Siddiq, 24 April 2006, ‘Prime Minister’s Phonecall with President Talabani, 24 April’.

333 eGram 13972/06 Baghdad to FCO London, 27 April 2006, ‘Iraq: Visit by Prime Minister’s Foreign

Policy Adviser’.

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