SIIC head, former U.S. envoy discuss situation in Iraq

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The head of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), Abdelaziz al-Hakeem, on Tuesday discussed the recent developments in the country with the permanent U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad. Hakeem, who is also the head of the Shiite United Iraqi Alliance (UIA), received Khalilzad and discussed with him means of boosting mutual relations between the two countries, according to a statement published on the official web site of the SIIC. The meeting tackled the Iraqi government’s efforts to rid Iraq of the repercussions of Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The UIA is the largest political bloc with 83 seats in the 275-member Parliament. Khalilzad served as the U.S. ambassador to Iraq from June 2005 to March 2007. SS (P) 1