Talks for Iraqi unity government under way

BAGHDAD, April 17 (UPI) -- Tariq al-Hashemi, the Sunni vice president of Iraq, told The Wall Street Journal that Sunni legislators are discussing rejoining the Shiite-led government.

Hashemi, in an interview late Wednesday, said that he was impressed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's effort to disarm Shiite militia in Basra.

"I think we more or less reached a turning point ... try to meet half-way with others and be more flexible with each other," he said. "Everybody is trying their best to sit down and negotiate and reach some sort of agreement."

Hashemi said he has met twice with Maliki since the prime minister returned from Basra. He expects a national unity government to be announced within two weeks.

A Maliki aide confirmed the talks and the timetable, the Journal said.

The assault on the Shiite militia loyal to Moqtada Sadr ended with an Iranian-brokered cease-fire and without any surrender of arms. The government also fired hundreds of officers from the security services for refusing to fight or even backing the Mehdi Army.