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| Sunni bloc ends boycott in Iraq | Sunni bloc ends boycott in Iraq |
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| A Sunni Arab-led bloc has ended its boycott of Iraq's parliament - the last of several Sunni groups to return after walking out three months ago. | A Sunni Arab-led bloc has ended its boycott of Iraq's parliament - the last of several Sunni groups to return after walking out three months ago. |
| The Iraqi National Dialogue Front said the government had agreed to address security fears and delay oil-law talks. | The Iraqi National Dialogue Front said the government had agreed to address security fears and delay oil-law talks. |
| Iraq's government is considering key laws demanded by the US amid increasing pressure to end the political deadlock. | Iraq's government is considering key laws demanded by the US amid increasing pressure to end the political deadlock. |
| On Monday, the US commander in Iraq and the ambassador will report to Congress on US military strategy in Iraq. | On Monday, the US commander in Iraq and the ambassador will report to Congress on US military strategy in Iraq. |
| The leader of the National Dialogue Front, Saleh al-Mutlaq, said all of its 11 members that hold seats in the 275-seat parliament would return to work. | The leader of the National Dialogue Front, Saleh al-Mutlaq, said all of its 11 members that hold seats in the 275-seat parliament would return to work. |
| We need a liberal government, we need a secular government. Without such a government the violence will continue Saleh al-Mutlaq | We need a liberal government, we need a secular government. Without such a government the violence will continue Saleh al-Mutlaq |
| Other conditions of return set by the bloc, which describes itself as a non-sectarian coalition, included allocating funds to help resettle millions of people displaced by violence. | Other conditions of return set by the bloc, which describes itself as a non-sectarian coalition, included allocating funds to help resettle millions of people displaced by violence. |
| Benchmark laws | Benchmark laws |
| The main Sunni Arab bloc, the Accordance Front, and a faction loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr also recently ended their boycotts. | |
| "We need a liberal government, we need a secular government. Without such a government the violence will continue," Mr Mutlaq said on Al-Jazeera television. | "We need a liberal government, we need a secular government. Without such a government the violence will continue," Mr Mutlaq said on Al-Jazeera television. |
| He added: "The violence will grow again, as people will lose hope if nothing changes on the political side." | He added: "The violence will grow again, as people will lose hope if nothing changes on the political side." |
| Parliament will soon review two laws that the US sees as key steps towards political reconciliation and a withdrawal of its forces in Iraq. | Parliament will soon review two laws that the US sees as key steps towards political reconciliation and a withdrawal of its forces in Iraq. |
| Mr Mutlaq's bloc describes itself as a non-sectarian coalitionOne will let members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party back into the government. The other will determine how to share the country's oil revenues. | Mr Mutlaq's bloc describes itself as a non-sectarian coalitionOne will let members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party back into the government. The other will determine how to share the country's oil revenues. |
| Mr Mutlaq said the government had agreed to delay negotiations on the oil law until after Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting expected to start next week. | Mr Mutlaq said the government had agreed to delay negotiations on the oil law until after Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting expected to start next week. |
| It is in the interests of the bloc to be present when this crucial draft legislation is debated, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad. | It is in the interests of the bloc to be present when this crucial draft legislation is debated, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad. |
| And if clear ground rules are put in place for oil revenues, Iraq will be in a much more secure position to attract lucrative international investment in new wells and oil fields, our correspondent says. | And if clear ground rules are put in place for oil revenues, Iraq will be in a much more secure position to attract lucrative international investment in new wells and oil fields, our correspondent says. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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