Demonstrations continued in semi-autonomous northern Kurdistan against regional govt; 1 police officer killed, 10 wounded 22 March during protest in Halabja town. PM Maliki 3 March demanded immediate withdrawal of Kurdish troops from city of Kirkuk; President Talabani 7 March described Kirkuk as “Jerusalem” of Kurdistan, should be annexed into Kurdish region. Thousands of Shiites in Baghdad and Basra 19 March protested Saudi Arabia’s military intervention in Bahrain; Maliki 25 March called for end of intervention (see Bahrain). U.S. 7 March demanded accountability over crackdown on demonstrators, journalists following Feb surge in anti-govt protests. Sunni-backed Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi 3 March rejected position intended specifically for him as head of yet-to-be-created National Council for Strategic Policy. At least 56 killed, 98 wounded 29 March after suspected al-Qaeda gunmen took hostages at provincial council HQ in Tikrit.

Ongoing nationwide protests over corruption, poor services, food shortages; at least 29 killed so far in clashes with security forces. 25 Feb “Day of Rage” protests largest in month; most violent clashes in Hawija, Mosul in north and Basra in south. PM Maliki made series of announcements to forestall mass protests, including personal 50% pay cut, promise not to seek third term in office, increasing food rations. Maliki 27 Feb gave cabinet 100 days to improve or face “changes”. Provincial governors of Kut, Basra and Babil stepped down in face of protests; Maliki 28 Feb called for early provincial elections to meet people’s demands for change. Shiite religious leader Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani 26 Feb called for political reforms. Parliament 13 Feb approved several more ministers but key posts remain unfilled including defence and interior, both held by Maliki in interim. At least 48 killed, 80 injured 12 Feb by suicide bombing of Shiite pilgrims near city of Samarra.

Supreme Court 21 Jan ruling placed independent commissions and Central Bank under authority of Council of Ministers rather than parliament; member of Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc 22 Jan called it “coup against democracy”. Kirkuk province 18 Jan cut off electricity supplies to national grid in dispute over power rationing; reconnected 21 Jan after ministers agreed 50% quota increase. Month saw increase in bombings, highest casualty rate since Sept. Series of attacks targeted Shiite pilgrims including 3 suicide car bombs 20 Jan killing at least 50 near holy city of Karbala. Attacks on security forces, including suicide bombing 18 Jan killed up to 65 police recruits in Tikrit. Muqtada al-Sadr 5 Jan returned from self-imposed exile in Iran; held rally 8 Jan in Najaf, exhorted U.S. troops to leave and called on Maliki govt to respond to people’s demands for services.

Parliament 21 Dec unanimously approved new 42-member govt under incumbent PM Nouri al-Maliki, more than 9 months after election. 29 members of cabinet agreed, including retaining Kurdish FM Hoshiyar Zebari and making prominent Sunni leader Rafie al-Esawi finance minister; remaining 13 positions temporary due to ongoing disputes between coalition partners including defence, interior and national security posts. Parliament 18 Dec lifted ban on 3 Sunni politicians blocked from national elections over alleged Baath party links, one of whom, Saleh Mutlak, appointed deputy prime minister. PM Maliki 28 Dec said all U.S. troops must leave Iraq by end 2011, only way soldiers could remain is negotiation of new Status of Forces Agreement. UNSC 15 Dec ended number of Saddam-era sanctions aimed at, among others, preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, thereby ending oil-for-food program. Insurgent attacks briefly peaked, targeting Shiite pilgrims as millions visited shrines across country for commemoration of Ashura; including series of bombs targeting Iranian pilgrims in Baghdad 4 Dec killing 14, injuring more than 80. 2 killed, 16 injured 30 Dec in series of bombings targeting Christians in Baghdad.

Negotiations to form govt gained momentum with U.S./ Iran-facilitated agreement reached early Nov on power-sharing between main parties. Council of Representatives 11 Nov elected Sunni Usama al-Nujayfi as speaker, Kurdish Jalal Talabani as president. Talabani 25 Nov officially reappointed PM Nouri al-Maliki, ordered him to form cabinet within 30 days; power-sharing for ministries still unclear. National Strategy Council to be formed, headed by former PM Iyad Allawi, as part of agreement. Attacks against Christian areas in Baghdad continued days after PM Maliki promised greater protection; 4 killed, 16 wounded in 10 Nov attacks. Ongoing insurgent attacks elsewhere: 10 killed, 35 injured in 8 Nov car bombing in Basra, 5 killed 24 Nov in bomb attack in Mosul, high ranking army officer assassinated 24 Nov in Saidiya district.

In ongoing post-election negotiations to form govt, PM Maliki nominated for second term 1 Oct by National Alliance Shiite megabloc including Sadrist movement in deal brokered by Iran. But deadlock continued with Maliki still short of the 163 votes needed for parliamentary majority. Maliki 9 Oct urged concessions from all parties to end impasse. Iraqiya 10 Oct reportedly dropped demand for Allawi as PM, but insisted on equal share of power. Maliki visited Syria to strengthen ties, also Jordan, Iran, Turkey. Iran 18 Oct backed Maliki for second term, Ayatollah Khamenei said Iraq must push out U.S. Allawi 17 Oct said Iran trying to destabilise region. U.S. pushed for broad coalition to marginalise Moqtada al-Sadr, received assurances from Maliki that Sadr’s supporters not to head security forces. Supreme Court 24 Oct ordered parliament to convene, called members’ June decision to delay “illegal”. Wikileaks released some 400,000 classified military documents on Iraq, including reports of prisoner abuse by Iraqi forces. Maliki said release “politically motivated”. UNHCHR 26 Oct urged U.S., Iraq to investigate Wikileaks claims. At least 25 people killed by 29 Oct suicide bomb attack on café in Balad Ruz, north of Baghdad. At least 52 people killed 31 Oct during security forces rescue effort after gunmen seized Baghdad church during service, demanding release of jailed al-Qaeda militants. UNSRSG Ad Melkert’s convoy attacked 19 Oct in Najaf following meeting with Ayatollah al-Sistani.

Deadlock over govt formation continued. In early month visit U.S. VP Biden promoted coalition govt between PM Maliki’s State of Law and Allawi’s Iraqiya, with Maliki as PM with reduced powers, but Allawi 24 Sept rejected Maliki as PM. Shiite blocs Iraqi National Alliance and State of Law failed to agree on PM candidate after setting themselves 5-day deadline 21 Sept. FM Zebari 27 Sept urged U.S. to help end impasse on govt formation. Anbar officials 26 Sept said Awakening Council members to be dismissed from police following Interior Ministry order. Ongoing insurgent attacks: over 20 killed 19 Sept in car bombings in Baghdad, claimed by al-Qaeda; 12 killed in attack on Baghdad army base 5 Sept; 2 U.S. soldiers shot dead 7 Sept by Iraqi soldier in north; Sunni cleric beheaded and burned 9 Sept; 9 soldiers died in bombing in north 15 Sept; senior police official killed 28 Sept. At least 4 killed 11 Sept in clashes between security forces and militants in Diyala province; at least 6 killed 15 Sept in Iraqi-U.S. raid in Fallujah, reportedly targeting al-Qaeda leader. 4 prisoners with alleged al-Qaeda links escaped U.S.-guarded prison in Baghdad 8 Sept. Restoration of diplomatic ties with Syria announced 24 Sept.

U.S. President Obama announced U.S. combat operations officially ended 31 Aug; U.S. 24 Aug announced drawdown to under 50,000 “advisory and assistance” troops achieved on schedule. At least 50 died 25 Aug in coordinated bombings and gun attacks targeting security forces across country, including 15 killed in bomb at Baghdad police station, claimed 28 Aug by al-Qaeda-linked group. At least 46 killed 17 Aug in suicide bomb at army recruitment centre; 2 judges killed same day in targeted attacks, both claimed by al-Qaeda affiliate. 5 police killed at Baghdad checkpoint 3 Aug; at least 6 killed same day in market bombing in Kut; over 40 died in Basra explosion 7 Aug; at least 8 soldiers killed in bombing in Diyala province 11 Aug. Deadlock in negotiations to form coalition govt continued; Iraqi National Alliance 1 Aug broke negotiations with Maliki’s State of Law. UNSC 5 Aug extended UNAMI mandate by 1 year.

Continued stalemate in negotiations to form coalition govt. In 3-5 July visit U.S. VP Biden met PM Maliki, former PM Allawi and President Talabani; urged end to deadlock. Scheduled parliamentary sessions delayed 12 July, postponed indefinitely 27 July. In Damascus visit Shi’ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr 19 July met Iraqiya leader Allawi to discuss formation of coalition govt. Senior Sunni cleric Saadi killed in Anbar province 2 July. Dozens killed, hundreds wounded 6-8 July in Baghdad bombings, at least 20 dead in 26 July attacks near Kerbala, all targeting Shi’ite pilgrims. At least 43 killed 18 July in 2 bombings targeting Awakening Council members in southwest Baghdad and western Iraq, claimed by al-Qaeda 23 July. Other attacks over month included 15 killed in car bomb in Diyala province 21 July; at least 4 killed in attack on Al-Arabiya TV station 26 July; reportedly over 20 killed in attacks across country targeting security officials 29 July. U.S. military 15 July transferred last U.S.-run detention centre to Iraqi authorities; 4 al-Qaeda linked prisoners escaped 20 July. Oil minister Shahristani 13 July criticised Kurdish region for allowing export of oil to Iran without central govt approval. Continued violence between PKK, Turkish military inside Iraq (see Turkey); govt 2 July rejected Turkish call to intervene in PKK conflict.

Deadlock over formation of govt continued. 1st session of new parliament met 14 June; adjourned same day to allow discussions between blocs on govt formation to continue. PM Maliki’s State of Law, and Iraqi National Alliance, main Shiite blocs, 10 June announced merger into new bloc 4 seats short of parliamentary majority, but no agreement on candidate for PM. Ayatollah al-Sistani 18 June denied role in Shiite mega-bloc merger, said he would intervene if govt not formed soon. U.S. Asst Sec State Feltman 15-17 June met all main leaders, but still no agreement between former PM Allawi and Maliki, both claiming right to form govt. Faras al-Jubouri, candidate for Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc, assassinated near Mosul 5 June. Up to 26 killed in 13 June coordinated bombings and storming of Iraq central bank; al-Qaeda group 17 June claimed responsibility. 2 senior members of govt-backed Sunni militia among dead following series of bombs across country 22 June. Scores killed in other bombings, gun attacks over month, targeting police, soldiers, politicians, former insurgents. At least 1 reported killed in Iranian air and artillery attacks on Kurdish region May-June; Iraqi-Kurdish security forces claimed Iranian soldiers chasing PJAK Kurdish rebels entered and established position in country 3 June; U.S. military 10 June said no evidence. Increased violence between PKK and Turkish military (see Turkey); Iraqi-Kurdish President Barzani visiting Turkey gave support to Turkish efforts against PKK 3 June; Turkish FM declared wish for greater economic integration between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan.