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Iraq PM: 'no unity government'

June 25, 2014

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has called for a national unity government. The proposal had been flagged to counter a Sunni militant offensive.

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Nuri al-Maliki Ministerpräsident Irak
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday ruled out a government of national unity, in the face of an campaign by Sunni militants who have won large areas of northern and western Iraq, following the fall of Mosul earlier this month.

"The call to form a national emergency government is a coup against the constitution and the political process," al-Maliki said in a televised address.

"The dangerous goals of forming a national emergency government are not hidden. It is an attempt by those who are against the constitution to eliminate the young democratic process and steal the votes of the voters," al-Maliki said.

The recent offensive from the group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has put pressure on al-Maliki from domestic opponents and overseas. Critics have alleged his policies are sectarian.

His electoral bloc won the most seats in April's parliamentary elections, but fell short of a majority in Iraq's Council of Representatives, and has had to ask the support of rivals in order to form a government.

jr/kms (AFP, dpa)