Maliki Calls Summit to Heal Iraqi Cabinet

Iraq’s PM says he will try to salvage his disintegrating government by holding an emergency summit of cabinet members over the next couple of days. The BBC reports that Nouri al-Maliki is even warning Sunnis that he could refill his government with “alternative” ministers if they refuse to join. Sunnis accuse al-Maliki of having close ties with Iran, which has started "an unprecedented genocide campaign” in Iraq. 

Still smarting from the walkout of five more ministers last week, Maliki has been unable to heal the sectarian rifts ravaging his country and its struggling government. He says that the meeting will happen over the next couple of days and will include a senior Kurdish leader to help negotiate with Sunnis about re-entering the fractured cabinet. (More Nouri al-Maliki stories.)