ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The United States on Thursday said it is ready to work with Iraq to end the political impasse engulfing the country and hindering government formation efforts following protests in Baghdad against the nomination of a premiership candidate.
"We are prepared to work with the government that puts Iraqi sovereignty in the best interests of the people of Iraq at the heart of its agenda," US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in response to Rudaw's Roj Elli Zalla during his daily press briefing.
Hundreds of supporters of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Iraqi parliament on Wednesday rejecting the nomination of Coordination Framework candidate for prime minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, who is accused of corruption and being closely linked to former PM Nouri al-Maliki.
The protestors marched towards the parliament building and entered it with little resistance from security forces after they pulled down the highly-fortified Green Zone's concrete walls.
Price said demonstrations are a “fundamental element of society," provided they do not take a violent turn either at the hands of protestors or security forces and further "urged all parties to remain calm."
The protests in the war-torn country were the largest since Iraq held its parliamentary election in October and the biggest challenge facing the country as it remains deeply entrenched in political turmoil.
"We have consistently reaffirmed our commitment to a strong, stable, and prosperous Iraq, and a long-term, deep, multifaceted, and strategic partnership with Iraq serves both our interests as well as Iraq's interests," Price added.
Iraq's quest to form a government worsened with the withdrawal of Sadr, who was the kingmaker of the October elections as his movement won 73 seats in parliament. His withdrawal seemingly paved the way for the pro-Iran Coordination Framework to form a government, but protestors loyal to the top Shiite cleric marched in strong rejection of their nominee for the premiership.
The country's lack of a permanent government set a new record on Wednesday, marking a staggering 290 days and surpassing the previous record of 289 days during Maliki's second term in 2010.
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