Khamenei calls for Iraqi Govt

IRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on political factions in Iraq to reach a consensus on forming a new Government, state television reported Monday.

Since Iraq’s election in March, its leaders have been unable to agree on a new Government, raising concerns over a revival of violence between once dominant Sunnis and majority Shi’ites propelled into power after Saddam Hussein’s fall in 2003.

Incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki flew to Tehran on Monday to seek support for his bid for a new term.

Shi’ite power Iran has wielded great influence in Baghdad since the fall of Saddam, who waged an eight-year war against Iran in the 1980s.

Iran’s leaders have been lukewarm about backing Maliki, who they are thought to view as overly independent.

Many of the Shi’ite political parties that dominate Iraq now were nurtured by Iran during their long exile under Saddam.

This month Tehran appears to have persuaded the Iran-backed movement of fiery anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to ally with Maliki to try to ensure a Shi’ite Islamist-dominated government remains in charge of its neighbour.

“All politicians and officials in Iraq should focus on formation of a new government as soon as possible,” Khamenei told Maliki on his one-day visit. The United States and Iraq’s Arab neighbours are nervous of Iran’s growing influence in Iraq and across the Middle East.

Arab nations want Maliki to form a national unity government that would include the cross-sectarian, Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc that won 91 seats in Iraq’s 325-seat assembly, the largest number. Maliki’s State of Law won 89 seats. Tehran,Tuesday, Reuters