US urges Iraq’s political rivals to avoid violence amid tension

ANKARA (AA) – The US Embassy in Baghdad has called on Iraq’s political rivals to abstain from violence amid tension following the nomination of a new prime minister.

In a statement, the embassy said it is "closely monitoring the unrest in Baghdad ... (and) concerned by reports of violence."

It renewed calls for Iraqi parties "to remain calm, abstain from violence, and resolve their political differences through a peaceful process guided by the Iraqi constitution."

Tension escalated in recent days in Iraq following the nomination of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to form a new government by a coalition of groups close to Iran amid protests by supporters of influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Iraq has been in a political deadlock for nine months following the country’s general elections la October 2021 which failed since then to agree on a new government between the rival parties.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar