Two Sunni leaders complained they are being pushed out of the political system despite claims by the government that it is trying to bring Sunnis into power. Rafe al-Essawi, a former deputy prime minister, and Atheel al-Nujaifi, Nineveh’s governor, both spoke at the Brookings Institution on Monday. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was accused of being too weak to dismantle the corrupt administration that the former premier and current vice president, Nouri al-Maliki, left for him. However, he was not accused of sectarianism.
At least 55 people were killed or found dead:
Near Muqdadiya, six bodies were found in an orchard. The bodies of a man and his son were found a day after they were kidnapped. Several people were kidnapped in the Wajihiya area yesterday.
Fifteen people were kidnapped in Balad Ruz.
In Baghdad, two militants were killed.
The Mosul Youth Resistance Movement claimed the death of a militant commander in Mosul.
In Garma, 15 militants were killed.
Ten militants were killed near Tal Afar.
In Sinjar, airstrikes left eight militant leaders dead. At least four militants were killed during a separate operation.
Airstrikes in Falluja left several militants dead, including a car bomb expert.
In Baquba, four militants were killed.
Three militants were killed near Ramadi.
Fierce battles are taking place in Albu Tohma.
