BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Sunni Arab vice president on Saturday called the return of his boycotting political bloc to the Shiite-led Cabinet a priority, saying the government needs to reconcile quickly to “save Iraq.”
Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi’s comments were the latest to signal readiness by the main Sunni bloc, the National Accordance Front, to rejoin the government after an absence of nearly nine months.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Friday that he expected to present a new Cabinet list “within a few days.” The step would be a boost to his government and is seen by the United States as a significant step forward.
Although the two sides have said they were prepared to join forces for more than a week, internal power struggles within the National Accordance Front have delayed a formal announcement, according to a Sunni official familiar with the negotiations.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject, said disagreements were focused on who should hold which posts.
“The priority today should be given to re-establishing a national government with a clear political program, and to deal with the basic issues regarding services,” al-Hashemi said.
Meanwhile, clashes continued Saturday in the Mahdi Army stronghold of Sadr City, a sprawling district in northeastern Baghdad, although they did not appear as fierce as in recent days.
Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Friday called for an end to Iraqi bloodshed, saying his threat of an “open war” applied only to U.S.-led foreign troops. But al-Maliki said he would end the Iraqi army’s crackdown if four conditions were met, including surrendering weapons.
Two suspected militants were killed Saturday when an unmanned drone fired a Hellfire missile at a vehicle after they were observed loading weapons inside about 3:30 p.m., the military said.
Hospital officials said eight bodies were received of people killed in overnight fighting, while 12 other people, including a schoolboy, were wounded early Saturday.
Also, three suicide car bombers targeted Iraqi security forces, killing at least seven people in Mosul.
