Iraqi leaders start coalition talks

BAGHDAD, Dec 16 (Reuters) Top Iraqi leaders said they started official talks today to try to form a political coalition to support the government and bridge the country's ethnic and sectarian divide.

The talks among the two Kurdish parties in the government, the powerful Shi'ite Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), and the biggest Sunni bloc in parliament, the Islamic Party, follow efforts by US President George W Bush to take a more active role to curb the sectarian violence.

Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, whose own power base is weak, recently blamed the violence that has killed thousands of Iraqis on the failure of squabbling political leaders to compromise and work together effectively.

The government is now made up of competing ethnic and sectarian blocs whose infighting has paralysed decision-making and has so far failed in pushing through legislation on issues such as disbanding militias.

''The talks began among the powers to a reach a national platform from which a wide political coalition might emerge,'' Islamic Party official Ali Baban told a news conference alongside Shi'ite leader and head of SCIRI Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, President Jalal Talabani, Kurdish leader Masoud Barazani and Maliki.

''We hope the talks will end up in forming the coalition which we hope will lead the political process and support the Maliki government,'' he said.

Officials close to the leadership said the coalition would enable government to get backing from a wider number of parties and speed the passing of legislation.

''This is a significant development,'' Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, a Kurd, told Reuters.

''The moderate powers want to form a framework which would enable the government to implement the tough decisions it needs to make to deal with the unrelenting crisis in Iraq,'' he said.

The national unity government has promised much but achieved little since coming to power seven months ago. Iraqis are disillusioned by the stagnant economy and worsening security.

Maliki has struggled to stamp his authority on a government whose ministries are personal fiefdoms for the various political parties.

Political supporters of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr, forming one of the biggest blocs in the government, suspended their participation in the cabinet and parliament to press their demand for a timetable for US troop withdrawal and in protest against Maliki's meeting with Bush.

Officials said once formed the coalition could be expanded to include other forces and said they were not trying to isolate Sadr, whose Mehdi Army militia is accused of death squad killings that fuel the Sunni-Shi'ite violence.

''This possible coalition is not aimed against anyone, it is just aimed at helping the government to do its work with all the support it needs,'' a senior Shi'ite official told Reuters.

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