Iraq's top leaders hold rare joint news conference

BAGHDAD, Aug 26 (Reuters) Iraq's top Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish political leaders held a brief news conference today to announce they had signed a statement on attempts to foster reconciliation among the country's warring sects.

It was not immediately clear what was in the statement, and the officials, including Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, gave few details.

But the appearance of Maliki on Iraqi television with the other leaders was a rare show of public unity amid crumbling support for the prime minister's government.

The other officials at the news conference were President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd; Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi; Shi'ite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, and Masoud Barzani, president of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

''The first step to rebuild the political process was the alliance of four parties,'' said Maliki, referring to a recent alliance between leading Shi'ite and Kurdish parties.

''The signing of this joint statement is the second step.'' Maliki said a committee formed by the political parties had reviewed the current stalemate and ''accomplished some solutions''.

''This political agreement and the statement will reflect on the whole of the political process, whether it is the government or the parliament,'' Maliki said.

It was unclear why the leaders did not give more details on the statement and various party officials could not be reached to comment.

The parties have been trying to reach agreement on laws on sharing oil revenues, setting a date for provincial elections, and relaxing restrictions on former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party working in the military and civil service.

The laws are seen by Washington as vital to fostering national reconciliation between Iraq's warring sects.

Reuters MS RN2303