Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi. The Iraq’s highest-ranking Sunni official is accused of being involved in the assassinations of government and security officials. A sudden escalation of tension among factions has raised concerns about a violent power struggle in Iraq following the US troop withdrawal.

The arrest warrant was issued after former bodyguards for Hashemi reported his involvement in assassination plots, including one targeting Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on December 3^rd. Iraqi state TV has broadcast a video of three men confessing to planting bombs in public squares and firing at convoys. Hashemi immediately denied any wrong doing. He called the warrant politically motivated.

So far, there has been no confirmation of Hashemi’s involvement. But the warrant has ignited a faction dispute, which has long been smoldering. Since US troops toppled the Saddam Hussein regime, the Sunni minority in Iraq has frequently accused the Shiite minority of trying to exclude them from the government. Division between Sunnis and Shiites widened when, just before the warrant was issued, Prime Minister al-Maliki attempted to get parliament to take up a no confidence vote against Sunni Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq, a member of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya party. Sunni parliament members responded by announcing a boycott of parliament to protest al-Maliki’s delay in resolving the political impasse. Many Sunnis feel their rights have been abused by the Shiites, whose power has increased since the US began operations in Iraq. They also accuse Prime Minister al-Maliki of dictatorship because some key positions in the government remain vacant. The Iraqiya bloc has 82 of 325 seats in parliament, second behind the al-Maliki National Coalition.

Observers say recent developments threaten the fragile power sharing agreement among the Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds and are pushing the nation to the brink of a civil war. High-ranking officials have met with Prime Minister al-Maliki to defuse the disputes. The Iraqi Supreme Judicial Court has formed a committee to investigate the accusations against al-Hashemi. President Jalal Talabani has criticized the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Court’s hasty decision. Massoud Barzani, a Kurd leader, has called for a negotiation to avoid a collapse of the national unity government. White House spokesman Jay Carney says the US is urging Iraqi factions to resolve disagreements by peaceful dialogue.

Iraq is facing its most serious political crisis since the establishment of the national unity government. The power sharing agreement between the Shiite majority and the Sunni minority could collapse at any moment, leading to outright civil war.

Anh Huyen