The Iraqi Accordance Front, with 44 seats in the 275-seat parliament, held the portfolios of defence, planning, culture and higher education as well as the posts of deputy premier for security and minister of state for women’s affairs. 
The bloc suspended the work of its ministers last week, accusing Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of refusing to consult it on various issues and to meet 11 major demands. These include purging the police and security services of sectarian militiamen, dismantling militias and release of thousands of detainees held without charge.
The resignations refute the government’s claim to be a “national unity” cabinet and undermine its standing at a time when it is under its greatest challenge. The government has failed to secure the adoption in the national assembly of a list of measures which would promote reconciliation with Sunnis.  Instead of continuing in session, as Maliki proposed, parliament went on holiday for the entire month of August. Maliki is held personally responsible for these failings.
Furthermore, US military commanders in Iraq have defied him by offering arms and equipment to Sunni tribesmen and groups fighting al-Qaeda elements operating in Sunni-majority provinces. Although Sunnis are well placed to fight foreign militants, Maliki argues that once al-Qaeda has been driven from Iraq, these arms will be turned against Shia-dominated security forces and militias as well as US troops.
The resignations coincide with the threat issued by Kurdish regional chief Massoud Barazani that there could be “real civil war” if the government does not implement Article 140 of the 2005 constitution which provides for facilitation of the return of Kurds to the oil-rich Kirkuk district, the holding of a census and a referendum on whether the area wants to join the three-province Kurdish region.
Arab and Turkomen residents of the city have said they will rise in rebellion if the government attempts to carry out the provisions of this article. Turkey has warned it will invade if the Kurds annex Kirkuk giving them the oil revenues from nearby fields. Ankara argues this would encourage Turkey’s separatist Kurds to carry on their revolt against ethnic Turk domination.
The US has urged Maliki to go slow on this issue, but the Kurds are not prepared to wait, risking military action by Turkey.