Assad urges new government in Iraq

Syrian President Bashar Assad has called on Iraqi officials to form a new government in order to restore peace and security in the country and the region.

The Syrian leader made the call in a Tuesday meeting with Ammar al-Hakim, who leads the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Syria’s SANA news agency reported.

President Assad expressed hope that political groups in Iraq reach a unified stance in forming a national unity government, saying it would serve the interests of the Iraqi people.

According to the Syrian president, the establishment of a unity government would act as a major step for the restoration of security and stability in Iraq and in the region in general.

During the meet, Hakim praised Syria’s support for the war-weary people of Iraq.

The remarks come as earlier on Monday, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned of continued violence if major parties fail to reach a consensus over choosing the country’s next prime minister.

Almost four months after an inconclusive general election, the failure to form a government has triggered public anger across Iraqi cities.

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi came first with a narrow lead over incumbent Premier Nouri al-Maliki in the March 7 parliamentary vote.

Allawi’s al-Iraqiya alliance secured 91 seats in the country’s 325-member parliament but failed to achieve the outright majority it needed to form a government.