ISTANBUL
A decentralized Iraq, with autonomous Sunni regions was called for at a press conference held by Iraqi Sunnis in Istanbul on Monday.
"The Popular Movement in Iraq," a political group for Sunni communities, also accused Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shia-led government of oppressing Sunnis. The group said its current priority is to topple al-Maliki and form a unity government.
Iraq has been gripped by chaos since Sunni insurgents -- led by militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant -- seized the country's second-largest city Mosul on June 10 and advance on the capital, Baghdad.
Mohammed Taha Hamdoun, the Popular Movement's spokesperson, said it would not be possible for the ISIL to hold such a vast region, which consists "40 percent of the population" and "60% of the Iraqi soil" without the help of Sunni tribes.
"Some 3,000 people from outside cannot hold control of these regions," said Hamdoun. He said 10 percent of the fighters were foreign militants.
The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant announced the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria, and designated its leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as "caliph," the head of the state, late Sunday.
Asked whether they would obey the self-declared caliphate, the spokesperson emphasized that the Movement is not engaged with ISIL's international ambitions, and are only concerned with defending Sunnis' rights in Iraq.
Hamdoun called on Sunni lawmakers to boycott an expected July 1 parliamentary meeting to elect the president and form a new government for Iraq.
aa.com.tr/en
