Iraqi president lobbies for government of national partnership

Iraq's President Fuad Masum said on Monday that he will reach out to all the political powers in the country for the formation of a new government based on national partnership.
In a speech to the Iraqi people on the occasion of the Eid Al-Fitr, Masum hailed their patience and steadfastness in resisting the crimes committed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) which threatens Iraq's civilization and course toward democracy.
He said that amid the present extraordinary conditions in Iraq, the country has taken effective steps, electing a new president and a Parliament speaker and two deputies.
"With the same patience and persistence, we will sincerely reach to all the political parties parties as soon as possible for the formation of a national government based on national partnership to achieve its basic missions," Masum said.
These are topped realising security and countering terrorism, through seriously repairing the faults of security bodies and the military.
Meanwhile, Masum received in his office today the UN Special Representative for Iraq Nikolay Evtimov Mladenov, who urged the president to work on converging the views of all the Iraqi components, a presidential statement said. Mladenov said that he had offered congratulations of the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Masum for his election as president, lauding his "political experience", according to the statement.
In the meantime, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, urged the political powers in the country to put their differences aside and form, as soon as possible, a strong government to serve all the Iraqi people.
Congratulating the Iraqis on Eid Al-Fitr, Maliki said the occasion comes at a time when the country is facing "a fierce terrorist attack that threatens its unity and heritage".
He urged the people to support the Iraqi army to defend their country.