BAGHDAD, April 6 (UPI) -- Baghdad is called on to put the finishing touches on a unity government to address looming challenges, the U.N. secretary-general said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki secured a second term in office late last year after months of wrangling divided lawmakers following parliamentary elections in March 2010.
Though Maliki announced in December that he was pushing ahead with a national unity government, many positions in his government aren't filled.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in his latest report on Iraq, said transition is never an easy task but Iraq could do more to address social, economic and security challenges.
"The early finalization of the government formation process will enable Iraq's leadership to take the measures required to address the legitimate concerns of the Iraqi people," he wrote in his report.
Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of the Iraqi Parliament, said the Maliki government is on the verge of collapse because of internal political conflicts. Several influential parties like Shiites in the Sadrist movement and the Sunni-backed Iraqiya slate are putting pressure on Maliki, Iraqi satellite channel al-Sumaria reports.
Maliki tried to allay public concerns over social programs and the economy following a wave of demonstrations in February.
"Unless there is quick and concerted action by the government of Iraq to address these concerns, the political and security gains that Iraq has made in recent years could be undermined," Ban warned.
