Iraqi PM backs president Talabani's initiative

Iraq's president Jalal Talabani has held talks with prime minister Nuri al-Maliki to find a solution to the political crisis facing the country. A statement from the president quoted Talabani as saying: "Dialogue is the only solution to solve differences and crises," reiterating that "the eight-point presidential statement included ideas that could form the basis for such dialogue." He added: "Any party could have demands and complaints; therefore, open dialogue is a necessity. It should take place under the constitution." For his part, Maliki expressed his full support for the statement, saying "the president’s role, as a guardian of the constitution, is the decisive opinion in these differences." He added that Talabani’s call for dialogue stemmed from his keenness to maintain Iraq’s stability. Earlier, Talabani called on political blocs to "stop exchanging tense media statements and to adopt the constitution in addition to the former agreements as a means to settle the crisis". Maliki also called on Iraqis to "convene under the umbrella of our beloved capital, Baghdad the capital of all Iraqis, without prior conditions and terms from any party, so as to discuss and solve our problems on the grounds of law and the constitution without abandoning the agreements reached during this period as long as it is constitutional."  Political factions in Iraq have been locked in intense political debate in order to resolve disputes with Maliki's style of ruling. The leader of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, Massoud Barzani warned earlier of the return to dictatorship through the efforts of Maliki to control the aspects of the state, especially on security issues and the armed forces.