Special Reports
UPI, Brussels May 3, 2011– Al-Qaida is adjusting its tactics in Iraq and the political situation there is far from inclusive, a member of the European Parliament said after a visit.
Struan Stevenson, a Scottish member of the European Parliament, led a four-member team to Iraq in April to get a first-hand account of developments in the country.
Stevenson said the security situation in Iraq is ’extremely sensitive.’ He said in a statement that his team had to travel around the country wearing body army and the level of security was incredibly tight.
Al-Qaida, he added, has taken to shooting policemen in the face from their cars at check points, leaving more than 80 dead in about two weeks.
Politically, he said the government was falling short of its pledges to establish a national unity government following a political stalemate that took up most of last year. Many of the key Cabinet positions aren`t filled and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appears to be consolidating power in his office.
’It undermines the whole concept of national unity that this government was supposed to provide,’ he said.

Link: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2011/05/03/EU-leader-gives-dour-assessment-on-Iraq/UPI-47511304447550 .