Killing continues as Iraq makes political breakthrough

RENEWED violence left more than 20 Iraqis dead one day after politicians made a breakthrough in the country’s long political standoff.

Seven of those who died were killed in three explosions that occurred just outside the heavily guarded Green Zone in Baghdad, not far from Iraq’s Defence Ministry.

Three US soldiers were also killed yesterday when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb north-west of the capital, raising to eight the number of Americans killed this weekend in the Baghdad area.

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad repeated his call yesterday for the quick creation of a cabinet comprising “competent” ministers “who will work for all Iraqis and bring Iraqis together”.

Prime Minister-designate Jawad al-Maliki has 30 days to assemble a national unity government of Shi’ite, Sunni Arab and Kurdish parties that officials hope can stem sectarian violence that has swelled over the past months during a stalemate over the government.

Parliament also elected a president, two vice-presidents, a parliament speaker and two deputies when it met on Saturday.

At least 2,391 members of the US military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

The three explosions occurred at about 8am local time outside a wall of the Green Zone where Iraq’s Defence Ministry is located, killing seven Iraqi civilians and wounding eight.

Three of the wounded worked at the ministry, an official there said.

Despite the violence, some Iraqis in Baghdad were encouraged by the legislators’ success in beginning to form a new government after repeated delays following the December 15 election.

“It took too long, but it is a good step on the right direction. It could be a springboard for the stability of this country,” Hussein Farij said in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.

“We pin a great hope on the formation of a new government. It must heal our country’s many wounds,” Majeed Hameed said.

Mr Khalilzad said yesterday that the US would support Mr al-Maliki and urged the cabinet that emerges to “govern from the centre”.

He also said that militias - which are largely Shi’ite and blamed by Sunni Arabs for much of the violence - should be disbanded or integrated into Iraqi security forces.