REPORT: Sunni leaders open to joining Iraq government if conditions met

Tribal leaders and clerics from Iraq's Sunni heartland who staged a revolt against outgoing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government would be willing to join the new administration if certain conditions are met, a spokesman for the group told Reuters on Friday.

The incoming prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, faces the daunting task of pacifying Anbar province, where Sunni frustrations with Maliki's sectarian policies have pushed some to join an insurgency led by Islamic State militants.

The spokesman, Taha Mohammed Al-Hamdoon, said Sunni representatives in Anbar and other provinces had drawn up a list of demands to be delivered to the moderate Shi'ite Abadi through Sunni politicians.

He called for government and Shi'ite militia forces to suspend hostilities to allow space for talks.

"It is not possible for any negotiations to be held under barrel bombs and indiscriminate bombing," said Hamdoon in a telephone interview.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic said it could start delivering firearms and munitions to Kurds fighting Islamic State militants in northern Iraq at the end of August.

"The Foreign Ministry considers the end of August as a realistic date for starting deliveries," the ministry said.

It did not say how many weapons could be delivered.

Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek was quoted on Wednesday as saying the shipments did not have to come from state warehouses as there were private companies that could deliver the goods. They need a state license for such a trade. 

In turn, a spokeswoman for UK’s prime minister said Britain would consider "positively" any request for arms from the Kurds to help them battle Sunni militants who have seized much of Iraq.

The United States has asked European countries to supply arms and ammunition to Kurdish forces, US and European officials have said.

Premier David Cameron has so far said Britain's response would be limited to a humanitarian effort, but London has also been transporting to Kurdish forces military supplies, such as ammunition, being provided by other nations.

Several European governments, including France, Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, have said they will send arms to the Kurds or are considering doing so.

Earlier, Germany's armed forces began sending aid supplies to northern Iraq where thousands of people have fled Islamic State militants, and the defense minister said Germany was looking into whether it would also deliver military equipment.

The first plane set off for Arbil, capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq, carrying medicines, food and blankets and further aid flights were planned for the day.

REUTERS

To watch Nicole Hajal's report, please click on the VIDEO above