Iraq government talks in disarray

BBC

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari has cancelled a meeting with senior political leaders, apparently to protest against a campaign to oust him.
Kurdish and Sunni leaders are unhappy with Mr Jaafari and have said they will not join a national unity government with him at its head.

This is the latest crisis to hit attempts to form a new government.

The country is undergoing one of its worst periods of violence since the US-led invasion three years ago.

Iraqi political leaders are coming under concerted pressure from world leaders who believe the failure to form a new government is partly responsible for fuelling the violence.

Mr Jaafari had called the meeting to discuss ways to resolve disagreements and to counter the recent upsurge in sectarian bloodshed.

But the meeting was cancelled without the government giving a reason.