Iraqi Shiite, Kurdish Leaders Confer on Formation of New Gov’t
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraq’s former prime minister and the current head of the Shiite National Iraqi Alliance, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, and a leader of Kurdistan Democratic Party, Hoshyar Zebari, exchanged views about the formation of a new government in the county.
According to a statement issued by the National Iraqi Alliance, during their meeting on Tuesday, Jaafari and Zebari discussed various issues, including the political and security process in Iraq as well as the problems facing the displaced people in war-torn cities.
At the meeting, the two sides also emphasized the necessity for the rapid formation of the cabinet "based on nationalism, competence and targetted state programs,” al-Masalah news website reported.
Earlier on Sunday, Jaafari and the head of the Sunni Muttahidoon Coalition, Usama al-Nujayfi, had held talks on the formation of the new cabinet.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to promote the future mutual cooperation and strengthen the bond between the executive and legislative branches in Iraq.
They also conferred on the establishment of strong institutions.
In a separate meeting held on Saturday evening, Haider al-Abadi, Iraq’s new prime minister designate, and Jaafari stressed the need to adhere to the deadline for the formation of a cabinet.
In the meantime, Iraq has been witnessing a new wave of violence fueled by Takfiri terrorists. The so-called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group has been operating in the Iraqi provinces of Nineveh, Diyala, Salahuddin and al-Anbar.
In July, the ISIL captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, as they looted Christian homes, desecrated cemeteries, destroyed tombs of biblical prophets, ruined churches, and pulled down crosses.
