Call to preserve national unity, French Foreign Ministry

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: French foreign ministry called upon Iraqi political circles to start dialogue to preserve national unity, according to its spokesman today. In a statement, copy received by IraqiNews.com, the ministry said that Iraq is gaining its sovereignty following US forces withdrawal. “We call the Iraqi government to continue rebuilding the country, stability and law respect”, the statement added. Iraq witnesses a political and security tensions, due to some provinces demands to change their status from provinces to regions, including Salahuddin, Diala and Anbar in protest for central government negligence. It is expected that more provinces will demand establishing regions in their competence. Additional conflict rose after issuing an arrest warrant against vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi, issued by the Interior Ministry, and broadcasting confessions charging him of terrorist acts, as well as the suspension of Iraqiya bloc activities in the parliament and the cabinet in protest against premier Nouri al-Maliki “unilateral stands in administering the state”. RM 613