Iraq’s Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari called for more support from the international community to help the country combat insurgent suicide bombings. Zebari’s remarks came in the wake of a spate of bombings in recent times, which killed more than 150 people. He urged the UN to investigate the possibility of external interference, and added that the government had "very solid, concrete evidence" of Syria's role in the bombings. Syria on its part denounced the attacks and denied having any hand in terrorism inside Iraq.

Ahead of national elections scheduled for January 16, 2009, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shi’ite, and Saleh al-Mutlaq, an independent Sunni, formed an alliance. Analysts believed the move was a positive development which could help bridge the sectarian divide. Current PM Maliki was also contesting the January elections in coalition with some Sunni tribal leaders. Another of the alliances is by prominent anti-al Qaeda Sunni tribal sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha and Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani, a Shi’ite. 1

• 1. “Iraqi politics shuns sectarianism as violence ebbs,” Khaleej Times, October 31, 2009, at http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/middleeast/2...