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| Iraqi leaders form new alliance | Iraqi leaders form new alliance |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Four Iraqi political parties say they have formed an alliance in an effort to break the deadlock which has severely weakened the Shia-led unity government. | Four Iraqi political parties say they have formed an alliance in an effort to break the deadlock which has severely weakened the Shia-led unity government. |
| The alliance between Shia and Kurdish politicians was announced by PM Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. | The alliance between Shia and Kurdish politicians was announced by PM Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. |
| The main Sunni Arab party - the Islamic Party of Iraq - declined to join. | The main Sunni Arab party - the Islamic Party of Iraq - declined to join. |
| With almost no Sunni ministers in the cabinet, correspondents say it may be an attempt to dispel the impression the government is close to collapse. | With almost no Sunni ministers in the cabinet, correspondents say it may be an attempt to dispel the impression the government is close to collapse. |
| Puzzling move | Puzzling move |
| The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says, on the face of it, the new alliance is a puzzling move. | The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says, on the face of it, the new alliance is a puzzling move. |
| This agreement has come about to move the political process out of this deadlock PM Nouri Maliki | This agreement has come about to move the political process out of this deadlock PM Nouri Maliki |
| For days, the Iraqi government has been struggling to arrange a summit of leaders of the main political factions. However, these efforts have so far come to nothing. | For days, the Iraqi government has been struggling to arrange a summit of leaders of the main political factions. However, these efforts have so far come to nothing. |
| Instead the two dominant factions in the government, the Shias and the Kurds, have announced what they are calling a new alliance of moderates. | Instead the two dominant factions in the government, the Shias and the Kurds, have announced what they are calling a new alliance of moderates. |
| Speaking in Baghdad, the leaders said the alliance would provide a majority in parliament that would allow delayed legislation to be passed - including measures demanded by the US. | Speaking in Baghdad, the leaders said the alliance would provide a majority in parliament that would allow delayed legislation to be passed - including measures demanded by the US. |
| Mr Maliki said: "The political process is suffering from a deadlock... [which] is absolutely unacceptable to the forces which struggled and worked very hard to build a new Iraq based on democracy, freedom, justice and equality. | Mr Maliki said: "The political process is suffering from a deadlock... [which] is absolutely unacceptable to the forces which struggled and worked very hard to build a new Iraq based on democracy, freedom, justice and equality. |
| "This agreement has come about to move the political process out of this deadlock." | "This agreement has come about to move the political process out of this deadlock." |
| Neighbours' help | Neighbours' help |
| Mr Talabani said he would welcome the Islamic Party of Iraq reconsidering its decision not to join the alliance. | Mr Talabani said he would welcome the Islamic Party of Iraq reconsidering its decision not to join the alliance. |
| However, leader of the party, Sunni Vice-President Tariq Hashemi, told the BBC that the current political situation was "not conducive to creating new political blocs". | |
| "There are many differences over how to manage the security situation and deal with those in power committing flagrant human rights violations. They can't be deemed moderates," he said. | |
| "The government's performance vis-a-vis human rights must be improved." | |
| In recent weeks almost all Sunni members of the cabinet have quit. Others are boycotting meetings, leaving at least 17 cabinet seats empty. | In recent weeks almost all Sunni members of the cabinet have quit. Others are boycotting meetings, leaving at least 17 cabinet seats empty. |
| Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish politician, says the new alliance would try to fill the vacant posts. | Mahmoud Othman, a prominent Kurdish politician, says the new alliance would try to fill the vacant posts. |
| He said the idea of holding a summit was still alive, but said that drawing in the Sunnis - who have denounced a government they say is indifferent to their demands - would be difficult. | He said the idea of holding a summit was still alive, but said that drawing in the Sunnis - who have denounced a government they say is indifferent to their demands - would be difficult. |
| Solving the problem needs the help of the neighbours, Mr Othman told the BBC, as the Iraqis on their own may not be able to do it. | Solving the problem needs the help of the neighbours, Mr Othman told the BBC, as the Iraqis on their own may not be able to do it. |