Sunni-backed bloc ends boycott in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- After more than a month of boycotting Parliament in a fractious Iraq, the Sunni-backed political bloc Iraqia said it has ended the boycott.

The move, announced Sunday by Iraqia, is seen as a positive development for Prime Minister Nouri ­al-Maliki, a Shiite, as he attempts to consolidate power after the departure of U.S. troops six weeks ago, The Washington Post reported.

But the newspaper noted key members of the secular Iraqia, which also includes Shiites, are still boycotting Cabinet meetings, and Maliki has signaled he will replace them if they don't return.

Iraqia had begun the boycott Dec. 17, saying the Shiite-dominated government was attempting to push Sunnis from power.

Maysoon al-Damluji, a spokeswoman for Iraqiya, said the end of the boycott did not mean an end to the dispute or that the bloc was satisfied its demand for a meaningful role in the government was met, The New York Times reported.

The end of the boycott of Parliament came a day after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Iraqia leaders and urged them to return so the leadership could have a national conference.

The White House said in a statement Biden had spoken to Iraqia leader Ayad Allawi and the speaker of Parliament, Osama al-Nujaifi.

"The two Iraqi leaders described deliberations under way among all Iraqi political factions and parties in the run-up to a proposed national conference led by President Jalal Talabani," and Biden "discussed with both leaders the importance of resolving outstanding issues through the political process," the statement said.

"We'll work through the national conference to achieve the demands of the Iraqi people," Damluji told the Times.

A U.S.-brokered power-sharing agreement was meant to ensure key Cabinet positions for Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.