UN urges Iraq to quickly form new government, top envoy warns Iraq is at ‘a critical juncture’
By APWednesday, August 4, 2010
UN urges Iraq to quickly form new government
UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. Security Council is strongly urging Iraqi politicians to quickly agree on a new government, a call backed by the top United Nations envoy who warns that the country has reached “a critical juncture.”
The council issued a statement Wednesday after a briefing by U.N. envoy Ad Melkert who said the five-month delay in forming a government is creating uncertainy in the country and conditions that could be exploited by opponents of Iraq’s transition to democracy.
Melkert said the main political blocs have been discussing possible power sharing arrangements, which he called an encouraging sign.
He also said the planned withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops by the end of the month is starting to impact U.N. operations.
