Iraqi Government Talks in New Crisis

IRAQI government talks are in disarray after Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari cancelled a meeting with senior political leaders, apparently in protest against a campaign to oust him.

Kurdish and Sunni Arab leaders are unhappy with Mr Jaafari, and have said they will not join a government with him at its head.

This is the latest crisis to hit attempts to form a new government as Iraq suffers a period of sustained violence.

At least 400 people have been killed since February 22, when one of Iraq’s holiest Shia shrines at Samarra was bombed.