Iraq's Abadi: Talks to form new government constructive

Iraq's Prime Minister designate Haider al-Abadi said on Monday his negotiations with political blocs to form a new government are constructive, and pledged to solve all the pending problems with the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.
"The negotiations with the political blocs have been positive and constructive, and we hope that within the coming two days there would be a unified vision for the government program," Abadi told reporters at a news conference in Baghdad.
"We want to form a government that includes all Iraqi factions, " Abadi said, adding that he asked the political blocs to nominate their own candidates for ministerial posts.
As for the disputes with the Kurdish region, Abadi vowed to solve all the pending issues with the Kurds saying "I am obliged by the constitution to solve the problems with Kurdistan region."
He welcomed the latest cooperation between the Iraqi security forces and Kurdish Peshmerga forces in several battles with the Islamic State (IS) militants, and stressed the need for further coordination between the central government and Kurdistan region in fighting the extremist IS militants.
Meanwhile, Abadi welcomed the volunteers who joined the security forces to fight back the Sunni insurgents after the latter overrun swathes of the pre-dominantly Sunni provinces, but said that the volunteers' activities must be coordinated with the security forces.
Abadi's comments came as the sectarian tension flared after a deadly attack said to be carried out by Shiite militiamen on a Sunni mosque that left dozens of worshippers dead during Friday weekly prayers in Iraq's eastern province of Diyala.
Hours after Abadi's news conference, a suicide bomber blew up his explosive vest among worshippers during the noon prayer at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, leaving at least eight worshippers killed and some 26 others wounded.
On August 11, Iraqi President Fuad Masoum asked Abadi, who is a leading figure in Iraqi National Alliance, a Shiite, to form the new government. According to the Iraqi constitution, Abadi has 30 days to form his cabinet.