Iraq's Unity Government Is On The Verge Of Collapse

Iraq’s Shiite Premier Tells Kurds To Hand Over Wanted Sunni VP As Sectarian Tensions Rise -- Washington Post/AP

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Shiite prime minister told Kurdish authorities Wednesday to hand over the Sunni vice president, who fled to the semiautonomous region to escape an arrest warrant on charges he ran hit squads targeting government officials.

Then a Kurdish presidential spokesman ruled out handing Tariq al-Hashemi over to Baghdad, turning up the heat under what has become the worst Iraqi political crisis in years.

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More News On Iraq's Sectarian Divisions

Iraq's sectarian divide threatens to split country as anger at Maliki grows -- The Guardian
Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki threatens to replace Sunni ministers -- The Telegraph
Iraq PM warns Sunnis could be shut from power -- Reuters
Iraqi Sunni Leaders Denounce PM Maliki -- New York Times/Reuters
Vice President of Iraq Voices Sunnis’ Anger as He Denies Ordering Killings -- New York Times
Iraqi vice president denies involvement in terrorism -- Washington Post
Iraq's vice presidency vows to fight against terror charges -- The Telegraph

Iraqi PM Urges Kurds To Hand Over VP Tariq al-Hashemi -- BBC
Iraqi PM warns Kurds over wanted VP -- CNN
Iraq PM tells Kurds to hand over Sunni VP -- CBS/AP
Iraqi PM urges Kurds to hand over Sunni vice-president -- The Guardian
Iraq's Maliki tells Kurds to hand over Sunni leader -- Reuters
Maliki tells Kurdistan to hand over Iraqi VP Hashimi -- Washington Post
Iraq: Nouri al-Maliki calls on Kurds to hand over vice president Tareq al-Hashemi -- The Telegraph

Biden urges Iraq leaders to resolve sectarian disputes -- BBC
Biden Urges Iraqi Leaders to Settle Differences -- Voice of America

Nouri al-Maliki is pulling Iraq apart -- The Telegraph
With US gone, Iraq's Maliki is setting the board for a power grab -- Christian Science Monitor
As the U.S. Leaves Iraq, Shiites Determined to Hold Power -- Jamie Tarabay, The Atlantic
In Iraq, a return to old enmities -- Washington Post editorial
Analysis: Iraq Crisis Raises Specter of Sectarian Strife -- New York Times/Reuters
Iraq: left to the wolves -- The Guardian editorial