Iran urged leaders in neighbouring Iraq on Saturday to form a national unity government that included Sunni Muslims. Iranian Ambassador Hassan Kazemi Qomi said the Iraqiya coalition, which includes Sunnis and Shi'ites and won the largest share of seats in last month's parliamentary election, would hold discussions in Tehran in the coming days.
Iraqi political leaders have been in talks to form a government since the inconclusive election. Shi'ite Iran has in the past advocated a Shi'ite-dominated government. "We support and encourage the participation of all the parties, but this is an internal Iraqi thing. It is only consulting (with Iraqiya), no more," Qomi told a news conference. "We are open to all parties." Since the vote, a number of delegations from Shi'ite and Kurdish factions have travelled to Tehran for talks. Iraqiya leader Iyad Allawi, a secular Shi'ite and former prime minister, had criticised opponents for going to Iran after the polls.
Asked about Qomi's comments, the US ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Hill, said: "I think that's up to the Iraqis to decide."
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