Al-Khazali: Shiite parties are in sync, Kurdish divisions delay resolving political deadlock

Shafaq News/ The leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq movement, Qais al-Khazali, underplayed the disagreements between the member parties of the Coordination Framework over the premiership, hinting that the Kurdish disagreement over the republic's presidency is the major hurdle for ending the political deadlock in the country.

In a sermon he delivered before a group of his proponents following al-Adha prayers, al-Khazali said that the withdrawal of the Sadrist movement "created new prospects to overcome the political deadlock and form a new government."

"There is no delay in the formation of the government, for the parliament is in the midst of a parliamentary recess. There is a session scheduled after the holidays. Only then can we discern whether we are stuck in a political deadlock or not," he added.

"We are working to avoid further obstruction of the government formation. There is a real chance to work it out."

Al-Khazali said the world could not afford chaos in "a country that produces four million oil barrels daily".

"The regional and major powers have sent clear messages on forming a national unity government," he added.

The Shiite cleric said that selecting a new president of the republic is "the only challenge to the formation of the government", urging the Kurdish parties to "agree upon a single candidate because we are not going to wait for so long."

Al-Khazali said the Kurdish-Kurdish conflict is more profound than the infight between the Shiite parties in Iraq.

"The Coordination Framework endorses the unity of the Kurdish parties and their agreement on a single candidate for the presidency. There are two solutions: you can agree on whoever you want and we would not have any problem... or you can agree on a process to put forth your candidates and whoever gets more votes wins."

"There is no major issue with naming a prime minister-designate. Of course, there are disagreements inside the Coordination Framework, but they do not tantamount to a major issue."

"The Coordination Framework resolutely rejects keeping al-Kadhimi's government in office. A caretaker government cannot stay," he stressed.