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John Kerry meets Iraq's Maliki to press for 'inclusive government' John Kerry urges Iraq's leaders to stand united in face of Islamist insurgency
(about 2 hours later)
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has held talks with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, as the west stepped up its calls for an "inclusive government" in the face of a rebel onslaught by Islamist militants and disaffected Sunnis. John Kerry, the US secretary of state, has urged Iraq's leaders to stand united against an Islamist insurgency that has reached the outskirts of Baghdad after routing the Iraqi army in the north.
The two men met for almost two hours on Monday, and afterwards Kerry said the meeting went well. Kerry reiterated Washington's support for Iraqi forces, saying US backing will be "intense and sustained" after holding almost two hours of talks with Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, in Baghdad. The US has criticised Maliki for fuelling the insurgency in northern Iraq by alienating the Sunni minority. While the US has not said publicly that Maliki should make way for a less divisive figure, Iraqi officials say such a message has been delivered behind the scenes.
The US has criticised Maliki for fuelling the insurgency in northern Iraq by alienating the Sunni minority. While it has not said publicly that Maliki should make way for a less divisive figure, Iraqi officials say such a message has been delivered behind the scenes. At his press conference, however, Kerry insisted that no country – including the US – has the right to pick Iraq's leaders. "That is up to the people of Iraq," he said, adding that Maliki had reaffirmed his commitment to form a new government by 1 July.
There was little small talk when Kerry met Maliki, the two men seated in chairs in a room with other officials. At one point Kerry looked at an Iraqi official and said: "How are you?"
Kerry said on Sunday the US would not choose the government in Baghdad, but added that it had noted the dissatisfaction among Kurds, Sunnis and some Shias with Maliki's leadership.Kerry said on Sunday the US would not choose the government in Baghdad, but added that it had noted the dissatisfaction among Kurds, Sunnis and some Shias with Maliki's leadership.
He emphasised that the US wanted Iraqis to "find a leadership that was prepared to be inclusive and share power". After meeting Maliki, Kerry held talks with Ammar al-Hakim, a Shia cleric regarded as a kingmaker.He emphasised that the US wanted Iraqis to "find a leadership that was prepared to be inclusive and share power". After meeting Maliki, Kerry held talks with Ammar al-Hakim, a Shia cleric regarded as a kingmaker.
Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, echoed Kerry on the need to secure an inclusive government in Iraq as he admitted concerns that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) was gaining ground in Iraq.Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, echoed Kerry on the need to secure an inclusive government in Iraq as he admitted concerns that the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis) was gaining ground in Iraq.
Arriving in Luxembourg for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers, Hague said: "We are absolutely concerned that they [Isis] are gaining ground. This is a political problem as well as a security problem. That is why it requires a more effective security response than we have seen so far, but it does require a more effective political response."Arriving in Luxembourg for talks with fellow EU foreign ministers, Hague said: "We are absolutely concerned that they [Isis] are gaining ground. This is a political problem as well as a security problem. That is why it requires a more effective security response than we have seen so far, but it does require a more effective political response."
He added: "The situation in Iraq is of deep concern to all European nations. I've discussed the situation over the weekend with Secretary Kerry, who has now arrived in Baghdad, and we all very strongly support his message in Iraq that political unity in Iraq and an inclusive government is absolutely fundamental to combating the extremists and the terror that has been brought by Isis to many parts of Iraq."He added: "The situation in Iraq is of deep concern to all European nations. I've discussed the situation over the weekend with Secretary Kerry, who has now arrived in Baghdad, and we all very strongly support his message in Iraq that political unity in Iraq and an inclusive government is absolutely fundamental to combating the extremists and the terror that has been brought by Isis to many parts of Iraq."
At elections in April, Maliki's list won the most seats in parliament, but it still requires allies to win a majority and form a government. Senior Iraqi politicians, including at least one member of Maliki's own ruling list, have told Reuters that the message that Washington would be open to Maliki leaving power has been delivered in diplomatic language to Iraqi leaders.At elections in April, Maliki's list won the most seats in parliament, but it still requires allies to win a majority and form a government. Senior Iraqi politicians, including at least one member of Maliki's own ruling list, have told Reuters that the message that Washington would be open to Maliki leaving power has been delivered in diplomatic language to Iraqi leaders.
Recent meetings between Maliki and US officials have been described as tense. According to a western diplomat, US diplomats have informed Maliki he should accept leaving if he cannot gather a majority in parliament for a third term, although US officials have denied that such a message was delivered.Recent meetings between Maliki and US officials have been described as tense. According to a western diplomat, US diplomats have informed Maliki he should accept leaving if he cannot gather a majority in parliament for a third term, although US officials have denied that such a message was delivered.
A close ally of Maliki has described him as having grown bitter towards the US in recent days over its failure to provide strong military support.A close ally of Maliki has described him as having grown bitter towards the US in recent days over its failure to provide strong military support.
Barack Obama agreed last week to send up to 300 US special forces troops as advisers, but has held back from air strikes requested by the Iraqi government. The gains made by Isis – backed by disaffected Sunni tribes and former Baathists – has forced the US to look to Iran as a potential ally.Barack Obama agreed last week to send up to 300 US special forces troops as advisers, but has held back from air strikes requested by the Iraqi government. The gains made by Isis – backed by disaffected Sunni tribes and former Baathists – has forced the US to look to Iran as a potential ally.
However, Iran's supreme leader Khamenei made clear on Sunday that a rapprochement would not be easy. "We are strongly opposed to US and other intervention in Iraq," the IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as saying. "We don't approve of it as we believe the Iraqi government, nation and religious authorities are capable of ending the sedition."However, Iran's supreme leader Khamenei made clear on Sunday that a rapprochement would not be easy. "We are strongly opposed to US and other intervention in Iraq," the IRNA news agency quoted Khamenei as saying. "We don't approve of it as we believe the Iraqi government, nation and religious authorities are capable of ending the sedition."
Some Iraqi observers in Baghdad interpreted Khamenei's comments as a warning to the US to stay out of the process of selecting any successor to Maliki.Some Iraqi observers in Baghdad interpreted Khamenei's comments as a warning to the US to stay out of the process of selecting any successor to Maliki.
Baghdad is Kerry's third stop in a tour of Middle East capitals to emphasise the threat the insurgency poses to the region and call on Iraq's allies to use their influence to press Baghdad to govern more inclusively. He has also been warning Iraq's neighbours they need to step up efforts to cut off cross-border funding to the militants.Baghdad is Kerry's third stop in a tour of Middle East capitals to emphasise the threat the insurgency poses to the region and call on Iraq's allies to use their influence to press Baghdad to govern more inclusively. He has also been warning Iraq's neighbours they need to step up efforts to cut off cross-border funding to the militants.
Kerry arrived in Baghdad a day after militants captured two key border posts, one along the frontier with Jordan and the other with Syria. Their latest victories considerably expanded territory under the militants' control, two weeks after Isis routed a weak Iraqi army in northern Iraq. Kerry arrived in Baghdad a day after militants captured two key border posts, one along the frontier with Jordan and the other with Syria. The latest victories considerably expanded territory their control.