UN calls on Iraq to form government soon

The United Nations (UN) yesterday called on Iraq to form a government as soon as possible, asking the country’s political parties to fill the four ministerial positions which remain vacant.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, made the remarks during a joint press conference with the head of Sadrist movement’s political body, Nassar Al-Rubaie.

Hennis-Plasschaert said a number of issues were discussed during the meeting, including the need to accelerate the formation of a government and focus on the provision of services, as well as economic and social development.

She stressed that the international community’s support for Iraq must continue in the future, noting that the UN has spent billions of dollars on areas retaken from Daesh, without giving further details.

Four ministerial positions are still vacant in the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, namely the defence, interior, justice and education portfolios. Several political blocs, including Saeiroon, have rejected the candidacy of Faleh Al-Fayadh for Minister of Interior, as well as that of Faisal Al-Jarba as Minister of Defence.

Iraq: Parliament to discuss US forces’ presence