Cablegate: Baghdad has a New Mayo

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 004079

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: BAGHDAD HAS A NEW MAYO

REF: BAGHDAD 3344

1. (U) On 01 October Mr. Saber Al-Esawi became the new
Mayor of Baghdad. Esawi replaces Baghdad Governor Hussein
Mohammed Ali al-Tahan who had occupied the office since
seizing the position by force, with approval of the Baghdad
Provincial Council (BPC), on 8 August (ref).

2. (U) The BPC in August sought to fill the mayor's
position as soon as possible. Esawi was overwhelmingly
chosen by BPC members to fill the position. Esawi delayed
assuming the office of mayor earlier for two reasons. He
remained in his home, limiting his outside activities and
recovering from wounds suffered from a 20 August
assassination attempt. In addition, neither Esawi nor the
members of the BPC wanted him to assume the office until
his nomination was approved by the Iraqi Council of
Ministers. The council approved and endorsed his
nomination on 29 September.

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COMMENT
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3. (SBU) Esawi is a member of the Shia Islamist party SCIRI
and his appointment as permanent mayor to replace the
political independent Ala Tamimi represents another step in
SCIRI's consolidation of its authority in Iraq's capital.
That said, compared to many politicians involved in local
Baghdad politics Esawi is a humble, unassuming, self-
effacing man. Before assuming the office Esawi was a
member of the BPC and Chairman of the Essential Services
Committee on the council. From this position he had a
detailed view of the city's problems and how to address
them. Our own sense of the man after numerous conversations
is that he is qualified to fill the position of mayor and
could be a real plus in city administration . END COMMENT.
Satterfield

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