Iraq's top politicians urge political factions to form government despite disagreements

Iraq's top politicians on Saturday urged parliamentary factions to get past disagreements in creating a government.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, President Barham Saleh and the Speaker of Parliament Mohamed Al-Halbousi, appeared on public TV to make their call, Anadolu Agency reported.

It follows a decision by the biggest parliamentary faction, headed by popular Shia figure Moqtada Al-Sadr, to boycott a Monday vote to choose a president.

"Today, we stand before the aspirations of our people who have long suffered from crises and disasters, wars, tyranny and terrorism, and the time has come to overcome them through good governance," President Saleh said.

He argued that the "continuation of the status quo is no longer acceptable", urging "the formation of a new capable government" to be realised "peaceful[ly]" and "democratic[ally]".

PM Al-Kadhimi cautioned that "enemies of Iraq… are betting on the failure of democracy in the country". He maintained "democracy is the safest and clearest" means of building "peace and coexistence".

There must be "dialogue" and "integration of roles", Speaker Al-Halbousi urged.

The Al-Sadr's grouping's parliamentary chief Hassan Al-Izari had previously on Saturday revealed discussions on creating a government are to be indefinitely halted. He asked other members of the grouping not to attend the Monday presidential vote.

Al-Sadr's faction, the Sairoon Alliance, is the largest parliamentary grouping, having returned 73 MPs during Iraq's October poll.

The second-place Progress Party has just 37 MPs and is led by Speaker Al-Halbousi.