Kerry Meets Iraq’s PM; New Iraq Gov’t by July 1
BAGHDAD, IRAQ (Worthy News)– U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for nearly two hours on Monday. Kerry received commitments from Maliki to begin the process of forming a new national government in Baghdad by July 1, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Mr. Kerry met with Iraq’s leader for nearly two hours Monday to stress the need for a new Iraqi government to unify its Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish communities against the mounting threat posed by the al Qaeda-linked militia, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, that has gained control of large swaths of western Iraq in recent weeks.
The top U.S. diplomat, in an unannounced, one-day stop in Baghdad, also met with top Shiite and Kurdish leaders Monday to press the same point.
“The goal of today was to get clarity,” Mr. Kerry said. “Prime Minister Maliki firmly, and on multiple occasions…affirmed his commitment to July 1 when the Parliament will convene.” — Source
Related News on the Internet
Kerry: Iraqi lawmakers meeting to form new government next week – Fox News
Secretary of State John Kerry, emerging from meetings in Baghdad with Iraqi leaders, said he’s been assured by embattled Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that Iraqi lawmakers will meet in the coming days to form a new government — though there’s no guarantee the next government would look dramatically different.
Kerry promises ‘intense and sustained’ support for Iraq – Reuters
Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday promised “intense and sustained” U.S. support for Iraq, but said the divided country would only survive if its leaders took urgent steps to bring it together.
White House says Iraq provided ‘acceptable assurances’ it won’t prosecute U.S. troops – Washington Times
The Obama administration said Monday that it has received “acceptable assurances” from the government of Iraq that U.S. troops won’t face the risk of prosecution in Iraqi courts.
