Ex-Kurdistan president thanks parties for rejecting Iraq PM-designate’s government

The former President of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government Masoud Barzani yesterday thanked Kurdish political parties for uniting and refusing to grant confidence in the government of Prime Minister-designate Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi, Anadolu news agency reported.

In a letter, Barzani thanked the parties for uniting and refusing to grant confidence to the new government.

Barzani described the development of such a unified position as “a historic gain for the people of Kurdistan and a source of appreciation”.

Iraq: MPs shun vote to approve new cabinet, again

“Iraq now stands before a new stage where the opportunity to fulfil the legitimate demands of the demonstrators, and secure appropriate ground for a comprehensive national consensus, can be achieved and to ensure rapprochement between all parties,” he added.

On Sunday, Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate Allawi stepped down from the task of forming a government because of “obstacles” put before him by some political forces.

Allawi’s decision came hours after the country’s lawmakers failed, for the second time in a week, to grant confidence to his cabinet.