30 Jan 2012

Boycott by Sunni group to end

2:55 pm on 30 January 2012

The main Sunni political faction in Iraq says it is ending a boycott of parliament, paving the way for talks with other groups.

Iraqiyya walked out over an arrest warrant for Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi.

Mr Hashemi is accused of running death squads during the insurgency. A warrant for his arrest was issued on 19 December. He is in hiding in Kurdish northern Iraq.

Iraqiya describes the move to end the boycott as a gesture of goodwill.

The party won the largest number of seats in elections in March 2010, but was unable to form a government.