Shiites and Kurds will meet representatives from Sunni community and outgoing Prime Minister Allawi's party. An official from the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq says non-elected officials will represent Sunnis in the government as well.

London (AsiaNews) – On the eve of the first session of the country's new National Assembly, talks between the parties on setting up Iraq's new government continue. Despite differences of opinion, the two dominant political groupings, the Shiite alliance and the Kurdish bloc, have decided to start negotiations with other political groups to ensure everyone a fair representation in the new Iraqi government.

According to Ali al-Bayati, London representative of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Sunnis, who boycotted the January 30 election, will be included. He said: "We are working to include the Sunnis in the new government, but especially in the constitution-making process, which is the most important thing for the future of Iraq". To work, the new Constitution must "represent all groups in the country," he added.

Ali al-Dabagh, a member of the Shiite clergy-backed United Iraqi Alliance, said a meeting was scheduled for today between Shiites, Kurds and Sunnis. The first two want Sunnis to name a candidate for the post of speaker of the National Assembly.

Al-Bayati said Shiites and Kurds agreed that every group should be in the government, adding that Sunni presence in the cabinet won't be limited to elected members but will also include outside figures.

Kurdish sources announced that they and representatives of the United Iraqi Alliance will meet officials from outgoing Prime Minister Allawi's Iraqi List party, which came in third in the elections.

According to al-Bayati, the main task of the new president will be security. "It doesn't matter whether he is Kurdish, Shiite or from another community, the new head of state should be above all a man who can build democracy in Iraq," he said.

To bring the country back to some form of 'normal life', he stressed the urgency for all political parties to "implement the existing interim laws".

The Shiite official said he was optimistic about the future security situation in Iraq. "I think that things will get better even if it is hard to know how long it will take," he said.

"Terrorists from abroad will continue to enter the country, but we shall go ahead with our plans and, working from within the new political structures, do everything in our power to protect the population". (MA) 

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