TEMPO.CO, Baghdad - Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called for international help against armed Sunni groups because of their continuous violence in his country.
Al-Maliki, who leads a Shia-dominated government, warned that his troops will fight them following the death of 86 people in a series of attacks in Baghdad, Baquba, and Mosul on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.
In his televised speech, al-Maliki requested international help to fight against al-Qaeda and its affiliate, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). “It may take time,” he said, as quoted by Al-Jazeera. “But, to keep silent means there would be sub-states creating problems for the security of the region and the world.”
ISIL fighters and their allies in the western Anbar province took over the town of Fallujah and parts of the provincial capital, Ramadi.
Responding to the deadly violence in Iraq, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and other diplomats urged Iraq’s leaders to seek political reconciliation to end violence and crisis in Anbar. However, al-Maliki has kept on using military power against the fighters.
AL JAZEERA | CHOIRUL