Alawy calls for early elections in Iraq

Iraqi politician Eyad Alawy has called for early elections and the formation of a new transitional government, after criticising the current stand-off between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and demonstrators in Anbar province. Speaking at a rally at National Accordance Movement party headquarters, Alawy claimed Iraq would see more demonstrations and tensions unless elections were called soon. A public vote supervised by the United Nations would alleviate the crisis, he said, adding that if the Maliki government refused to participate, the Prime Minister and his administration must go. The Iraqi politician said Iraq was in its “worst condition,” blaming the alleged monopoly of power built up by the Maliki regime which has led to the “disenfranchisement of millions of Iraqis.” The absence of Iraq’s President Jalal Talibani, who suffered a life-threatening stroke last month, had created a power vacuum in Iraq, Alawy claimed. Alawy has echoed the calls of a number of other prominent Iraqi politicians, who argue emergency elections will alleviate the current crisis gripping Iraq.