In a statement published in various Arabic media, including Azzaman, Iraq’s News Agency and Malaf website, the Cooperation Committee of four Iraqi nationalist groups including National Accord Movement, National Dialogue Front, Conference of Ahal al-Iraq and Council for National Dialogue appreciated the patriotic stances by political figures during last week who supported the need for holding fresh elections under international supervision, the modification of election law and fundamental changes in the government, as the only solution to the current crisis.

The statement partly says: These stances proved once again that the current political line-up in Iraq’s society is neither religious nor ethnic; rather, it is a political and strategic confrontation regarding security and democracy. On one side there are sectarian groups backed by the Iranian regime, and on the other side there are all Iraqi nationalist and democratic forces.

The statement states: We consider the measures by Nouri al-Maliki’s government for imposing pressure on its opponents, including accusing the National Accord Movement and its chairman for terrorist crimes, dismissal of ministers affiliated to Accord Front, pursuing inhuman actions against Sadr current in Karbala, yielding to Iranian regime’s pressure against Iranian dissidents, and creating obstacles against the modification of the Constitution that is against the national reconciliation and the rule of law.