BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday that the return of a Sunni political bloc that walked away from the government last year is imminent. The announcement followed a military campaign against Shiite militias that has buoyed Sunni politicians.
“The reconciliation has proved a success,” al-Maliki said in a statement. “The state’s weapons became the only weapon.”
The anticipated return of the main Sunni political bloc, the Iraqi Accordance Front, is welcome news for Iraq’s Shiite-led government, which has faced repeated questions about its willingness to share power. The bloc has submitted names of potential Cabinet ministers to the government for consideration.
The crackdown on militias, which started in the southern city of Basra last month, has led to fierce clashes between government forces and Shiite fighters in Basra and eastern Baghdad.
Clashes in eastern Baghdad continued overnight Wednesday and Thursday. U.S. heli copters fired at least five missiles, killing at least six suspected militiamen, the military said.
Iraqi lawmakers, concerned about the fighting’s toll on residents of several eastern Baghdad neighborhoods, including the huge Shiite district of Sadr City, agreed to form a committee to step up humanitarian aid.
“Innocent people are dying,” said Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a Sunni Arab lawmaker who serves as parliament speaker. “It’s a humanitarian issue, it is not a political issue. So let’s solve this matter now.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross said this week that the fighting has hiked food prices and overwhelmed hospitals in Sadr City. Al-Jamila market, among the largest in Sadr City, was destroyed as a result of the fighting, the group said.
The organization said the clashes have complicated delivery of water, food and medical supplies for the vast slum’s three main hospitals. Sadr City is home to between 2 million and 3 million people.
Also Thursday, the U.S. military said two U.S. soldiers were killed Wednesday when their vehicle rolled over in Salahuddin province.
