UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued a late night statement Saturday, calling on all Iraqi politicians to constitutionally nominate a new leader that will be acceptable to all of Iraq in order to mobilize the war-torn nation to confront the Islamic State (IS).
The statement read that the Secretary General was “deeply concerned about the evolving humanitarian and security situation” in Iraq, and that the UN and the international community were watching political developments in the country.
“The Secretary-General calls upon all Iraqi political parties to abide by the constitutional timeline that governs the nomination of the Prime Minister,” the statement read. “He also calls for reason and wisdom to prevail and urges all leaders in Iraq to form a broad-based government that is acceptable to all components of Iraqi society. Such a government should be able to mobilize the nation to confront the threat from the Islamic State (IS) in a way that will bring security and stability to the whole country.”
According to the Iraqi Constitution, the Prime Minister forms the government.
On July 15, a new Speaker of the Council of Representatives was chosen in Iraq, and on July 24, a new President was chosen by Iraqi politicians. A Prime Minister, however, has not yet been agreed upon.
Sunday is the final day provided by the Iraqi constitution to nominate a Prime Minister.
By Day Blakely Donaldson