I/II. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28055506
27 June 2014 Last updated at 15:04 Iraq crisis: Top Shia cleric urges quick PM appointment Grand Ayatollah Sistani is seen as an influential leader among Iraq's Shia community Iraq's most influential Shia cleric has called for a prime minister to be appointed before Tuesday in a bid to defuse the country's political crisis. Grand Ayatollah Sistani said that key positions should be agreed before the new parliament meets on Tuesday. Pressure has been building both inside and outside Iraq for a national unity government but political blocs have been unable to reach a deal. Large parts of Iraq were seized by Sunni militants earlier this month. Mr Sistani, who was born in Iran, relayed the message to his followers through a Friday sermon delivered by a spokesman. He called for political parties, including the State of Law Coalition of current prime minister Nouri Al-Maliki, to also appoint a new speaker and president for the country. "What is required of the political blocs is to agree on the three presidencies within the remaining days to this date," the sermon said. The Grand Ayatollah's representative spoke to the BBC last week Earlier this month Mr Sistani called for Iraqis to take up arms against militants from Isis - the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. Kurdish rule 'achieved' Mr Maliki has so far rejected calls to create an emergency coalition which would include all religious and ethnic groups. He wants to continue as prime minister for a third term. He said on Wednesday that forming a broad emergency government would go against the results of April's parliamentary elections, which were won by his alliance of Shia parties. Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Maliki talks to the BBC His political rival, Ayad Allawi, had proposed forming a national salvation government. Meanwhile, Masoud Barzani, leader of Iraqi Kurdistan, said that Kurdish self-rule in Kirkuk had been "achieved". The oil-rich city fell into the hands of Kurdish fighters when Iraqi troops fled in the face of the Islamist advance. The government has struggled to hold back the militants' advance from the north and west. Reda El Mawy reports on the Christians fleeing Qaraqosh Meanwhile, the charity Save the Children has warned <http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/2014-06/thousands-families-flee-fresh-attack-iraqi-villages> that thousands of families are continuing to flee fighting in Nineveh province. Several Christian villages have been attacked, the charity said, causing families to leave without any belongings. "Hundreds of thousands of children have been forced to flee with their families to escape the violence in the north and west of the country", warned the charity's country director in Iraq, Tina Yu. "We also should not forget that there are already a quarter of a million Syrian refugees in the Kurdistan region of Iraq", she added. Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Irbil, northern Iraq Ayatollah Sistani's intervention is hugely important. At the moment, there is no agreement on who should lead the new government, or fill the other top jobs. After the 2010 elections, it took nine months for the political blocs to reach agreement. Now, the Ayatolah's asking them to do it in just three days. The key question is who will be the new prime minister. Nouri al-Maliki is insisting on a third term. His coalition came out first in the April election, but far short of having a majority. But his potential partners are few. He's seen by many as having precipitated the crisis, by monopolising power and marginalising the Sunnis. There are plenty of other potential candidates among the Shia parties, who as the overall majority have the right to choose a nominee. Left to their own devices the blocs could have haggled on for months, leaving Mr Maliki in power. But the Ayatollah's intervention greatly increases the pressure for a speedy solution, indicating that both he, and perhaps Iran, which is immensely influential among the Shia, believe the level of threat requires immediate action, and probably the removal of Mr Maliki. II. http://www.iraqinews.com/baghdad-politics/jaafary-rawandouzi-discuss-forming-next-government/ Jaafary, Rawandouzi discuss forming next government June 27, 2014 by Ahmed Hussein <http://www.iraqinews.com/author/ahmedh/> Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The head of the Iraqi national Alliance Ibrahim al-Jaafary discussed with the leader within the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan PUK, Firyad Rawandouzi, the latest political and security updates and steps of forming next government in Iraq. A statement by Jaafary's received by IraqiNews.com cited "Both Jaafary and Rawandouzi discussed during the meeting, which took place at Jaafary's office, the political developments in Iraq and stressed the necessity of cooperation among the blocs at the first session of the parliament to eliminate the hurdles in front of choosing the three presidencies and eliminating the time of forming next government." -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
