Delays in forming an Iraqi government are hurting infrastructure and services across the conflict-torn country and adding to uncertainty about its future, the UN envoy to Iraq said on Wednesday. Nearly five months after a parliamentary election, Iraq remains at an impasse over forming a government, mostly due to disagreements over who should be prime minister, Iraqi politicians and UN officials say. “Persistent delays in the government formation process are contributing to uncertainty in the country and create conditions that could be exploited by elements opposed to Iraq's democratic transition,” UN envoy Ad Melkert said in a speech to the 15-nation Security Council. He also reiterated a previous UN call “for Iraqi leaders to show a higher sense of urgency and work together to forge an agreement ... without further delays.” The delays, Melkert warned the council, have been “impacting on the country's basic infrastructure and services, affecting the livelihood and well-being of Iraqi citizens.” He referred to recent protests over a lack of electricity as a sign of “growing disillusionment and anger.” The Iraqi government has said that electricity production and distribution are a priority. “This will still take several years to come, meanwhile negatively affecting prospects for employment and economic growth,” Melkert said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki said his desire to serve a second term as prime minister was not holding up the formation of a new government and asked Iraqis to have patience. Iraq's UN Ambassador Hamid Al-Bayati reiterated Baghdad's desire to end the country's so-called Chapter 7 status, under which it is required by the UN Security Council to make war reparation payments to neighboring Kuwait and is unable to import certain chemicals and other items. “We request that the council ... liberate Iraq from all restrictions imposed on it by the Security Council resolutions in order to enable Iraq to exercise its natural role as an effective member of the international community,” he said.
