Iraq's Main Sunni Bloc Suspends Government Talks

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's main Sunni Arab political bloc said on Wednesday it had suspended talks to rejoin the Shi'ite-led government after a disagreement with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki over a cabinet post. Persuading the bloc to rejoin has been a main aim of U.S. policy and is widely regarded as a vital step in reconciling Iraq's factions after years of conflict. Sunni Arabs have little voice in a cabinet dominated by Shi'ites and Kurds.
The breakdown in talks could undermine Washington's efforts to prod Sunni Arab states to offer more support to Iraq's government at a conference in Sweden on Thursday as a way of countering Shi'ite Iran's growing influence in Iraq. "We have suspended negotiations with the government and pulled out our candidates," said Salim al-Jibouri, spokesman for the Accordance Front. He said the decision was taken after Maliki objected to a candidate for a cabinet position.