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.
"We have suspended negotiations with the government andpulled out our candidates," said Salim al-Jibouri, spokesmanfor The Accordance Front. He said the decision was taken afterMaliki objected to one of their proposed candidates for acabinet position.
The Accordance Front pulled out of the national unitygovernment last August, demanding the release of mainly SunniArab detainees in Iraq's jails and calling for a greater say insecurity matters.
Persuading the bloc to rejoin the government has been amain aim of U.S. policy in Iraq and is seen as a crucial steptowards reconciling Iraq's warring factions. Sunni Arabs havelittle voice in a cabinet dominated by Shi'ites and Kurds.
Jibouri said the Accordance Front had drawn up a list ofcandidates for six cabinet posts to hand to the government forapproval but Maliki had refused to allow them their nominationfor the planning ministry.
The government has begun releasing Sunni prisoners under anew amnesty law, and Maliki won praise from Sunni Arabpoliticians after launching a crackdown on Shi'ite militias inBaghdad and the southern oil city of Basra.
(Reporting by Wisam Mohammed; Writing by Tim Cocks)
