Iraqis demand better life amid new calm

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Many Iraqis say they have seen few improvements to their lives

With security improved in the Iraqi capital, the BBC's Crispin Thorold meets Iraqis who want to see other things get better, and meets the man charged with getting it done.

Now that bombs are relatively rare, and the gunfire is sporadic, the gentle whirring of generators have become the sound of Baghdad.

Electricity supply in the Iraqi capital is scarce at best. People have to make do with just a few hours of power every day, and sometimes there is none.

It had been like that for three days when we met Jinan Flaih al-Obaidi.

From the invasion until now we have seen nothing from the government. Every day they say they are going to provide electricity, but they do nothing JinanBaghdad resident She cooks for her six children on a two-ring camping stove, in her pokey kitchen in Baghdad.

Jinan and her husband cannot afford enough fuel to keep their generator going all the time, so they have to make do with the city's power, when it works.

"Frankly, we have seen nothing from the government over the past few years", said Mrs Obaidi.

"From the invasion until now we have seen nothing from them. Every day they say they are going to provide electricity, but they do nothing. When will they pay attention to the people and solve our problems?"

Space for change

It is clear that the security situation in Iraq is getting better.All the statistics show that the number of violent incidents, and the number of people who are getting killed, are on the decline.

This is generally attributed to three factors: the ceasefire declared by a major Shia militia; the decision by many Sunni tribesmen to fight against al-Qaeda rather than with them; and the US military surge.

However, that new American tactic was meant to create the "space" to enable Iraqi politicians to bring real change to the country. Changes like the restoration of reliable electricity and water supplies.

Ahmed Chalabi says he wants to get things working in Baghdad

Across Baghdad, in the once-upmarket suburb of Mansour, sits Ahmed Chalabi, who has been appointed to return reliable services back to the Iraqi capital.

Mr Chalabi is Iraq's master of political reinvention. A one-time darling of the US administration, and a leading light of the Iraqi opposition, his most recent fall from grace began when he was accused of supplying the Americans with false intelligence in the run-up to the invasion.

In 2005 his heavily guarded compound, just down the road from the Hunting Club, was raided by the American army, who claimed that he was giving information to Iran.

Now he travels in a massive convoy. There were as many as 30 armoured vehicles on the day we went out with him. This is a sign of his status - and the threats against him - in the new Iraq.

Just south of Baghdad near Mahmoudiya, the government's new envoy met the heads of local tribes.

Dapper in a Western suit and tie, Ahmed Chalabi looked out of place amidst a group of tribal sheiks.

Until a few months ago this area was an al-Qaeda stronghold. Now the tribesmen are fighting against al-Qaeda, rather than alongside them.In exchange they expect the government to transform their lives.

"We have no services in this area", said Sheikh Jummah Ghanem Muhammad al-Zubae.

"No electricity, no water, no schools, no health care, no roads. It has been like this for a year," Sheikh Zubae added.

Mixed reputation

Now that there have been tangible changes in security Mr Chalabi believes that he and his colleagues in the government can make a real difference to services in the capital.

Iraqi tribesmen want rewards for siding with the government

"Residents are suffering a great deal", he said. "It is incumbent on anyone who can help to do his utmost to improve the quality of people's lives.

"The slide has been quite steep and we must bring it up to the expectations that the people had after 35 years of dictatorship."

For those people who have suffered so much here in Iraq, particularly since the invasion that Mr Chalabi championed, any improvements will indeed be welcome.

Whether he is the man to ensure services return to Baghdad is unclear.

His reputation is so muddied amongst Western diplomats that many are reluctant to comment on how he has returned to such a prominent position in the Iraqi government. On the ground, though, the US military is working with him.

In the words of one Iraqi: "Ahmed Chalabi does at least get things done."

Given the poor-track record of the government, that sets him apart from many officials in Iraq.