Iraqi leaders sign unity accord

BBC:

Iraqi Shia, Sunni and Kurdish leaders have signed a reconciliation deal, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says.

The accord was the second step towards rebuilding Iraq's political process, Mr Maliki said, after four Kurdish and Shia parties formed a new alliance.

A committee formed by the parties had "accomplished some solutions", he said.

Issues under discussion include holding provincial elections and easing a ban on former Baath party members in the civil service and military.

Mr Maliki was speaking at a news conference alongside Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Sunni Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, Shia Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Massoud Barzani - president of the Kurdish region.

But nothing suggests that the rebuilding of a broad-based government is necessarily any closer, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says.

Mr Hashemi said he had taken part in the talks as vice president but did not indicate his Iraqi Islamic Party was about to join the moderate Shia-Kurdish alliance.

The news conference seems intended more give a sense of movement than to convey the substance of significant agreement, our correspondent adds.

The deal has been pushed by the US as a key step on the path to national reconciliation in Iraq.

...

It may just be symbolism over substance, but that appears to be what the Democrats are demanding and it is possible Maliki and the Iraqis have called their bluff. They are still dealing with a government apparatus that makes it easy for a minority to resist any action.

The Guardian indicates the agreement came because of pressure from the US.