The confirmation of the results of Iraqi parliamentary elections and the continuation of talks to form new government in the country were among important news regarding Iraq during the past week.

Iraqi Premier Nouri Maliki early last week went to the holy city of Najaf and met and discussed with the most senior religious authority of Iraq Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani about the country’s domestic situation. The meeting was carried out in a situation where the Al-Iraqiya Coalition led by Ayad Allawi once again called for the foreign meddling in Iraqi domestic affairs.

A meeting with Maliki, the head of Supreme Iraqi Islamic Assembly Ammar Hakim and former premier Ibrahim Jafari was another event that attracted the attention of the media.

Maliki’s trip to Kurdistan shows the serious move by the State of Law Coalition for getting the viewpoints of Kurds and Shiites closer for forming the new government.

The sending of the first Iraqi ambassador to Kuwait after twenty years represents Baghdad’s determination for removing the differences.

The increase of terrorist attacks in Iraq following the release of several terrorists in US-controlled prisons without the agreement of Baghdad government discloses the US role in the recent violence in Iraq.

Iraqi Premier Nouri Maliki early last week met and discussed with Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Sistani in the holy city of Najaf. The meeting was carried out while the head of Al-Iraqiya List Ayad Allawi a few days earlier in a meeting with Ayatollah Sistani had asked him to back the formation of the government by the Coalition. But Ayatollah Sistani had refused to do so. Many political observers believe that in view of the status of religious authority in Iraqi social life, the victorious groups in the elections are seeking to take advantage of the role of Ulema and religious authorities for resolving the political standoff in Iraq. Although Ayatollah Sistani has not so far supported any political group, he has stressed that the new government should be formed as soon as possible. At the same time, the Iraqi National Alliance has also reminded that the country should go out of the current standoff quickly.

The head of State of Law Coalition Nouri Maliki, the head of the Iraqi Suprme Islamic Assembly Ammar Hakim and the head of National Reformation Ibrahim Jafar last week met and discussed with eachother in Baghdad. Finding a solution to break the existing standoff in the talks concerning formation of the government was the main motivation of holding a meeting between the three officials. At present, Nouri Maleki, Ibrahim Jafari and Adel Abodlmahdi are among the choices of the Shiite coalitions for assuming the premier post. After the confirmation of the parliamentary elections results, the formation of government is the most urgent priority. Thus, the biggest parliamentary faction should immediately introduce the candidate for premier post. In view of this fact, it seems that the victorious coalitions in the lections will have busy days ahead.

As Mohamamd Hussien Bahrol-Ulum arrived in Kuwait as the first Iraqi ambassador after twenty years, Baghdad-Kuwait ties entered a new phase. The ties between Kuwait and Iraq came to halt when Iraq attacked Kuwait in 1990s. The event has had adverse impacts on the type of relations between the two countries insofar as despite the collapse of Saddam’s regime, there is still unfavorable atmosphere in the two countries’ ties. It seems that Iraq is going to take a high step in normalizing relations with Kuwait by sending its ambassador to the country. Assuring Kuwait that Iraq is no longer a threat to the country was another reason for sending Bahrol-Ulum as the first Iraqi ambassador to Kuwait after twenty years. However there are still some issues that can overshadow relations between Iraq and Kuwait. The debate over Kuwaiti debts from Iraq due to Iraq war against the country and the issue of the fate of Kuwaiti captives and the war missing are among the current problems between Iraq and Kuwait that should be solved.

The disclosure of the relation between the releasing of terrorists detained in the US-controlled jails with the recent insecurities in Iraq has left no doubt that the United States is behind the instability in Iraq. The spokesman for Baghdad Operation Headquarters Qassem Atta has said that 86 terrorists have been arrested during the past two months who have been kept in the US-controlled Buka prisons. The United States without informing Iraqi forces and intelligence agencies has released a large number of them. These terrorists most of whom have been Al-Qaeda members have been placed at the commanding level after release. Evidence shows that these terrorists were involved in the recent operations in different Iraqi cities. What is important is that the released terrorists have been trained in the US-controlled prisons. All of this shows that the US circles have relations with Al-Qaeda.

Although the Washington officials claim that they are fighting with terrorism and Al-Qaeda in Iraq, there are numerous documents and evidence showing that the US circles are financing and arming terrorist groups in Iraq.