Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, has called for a summit of the nation’s main political factions in an attempt to break Iraq’s political paralysis.
In recent weeks almost all Sunni members of the cabinet have quit. Others are boycotting meetings, leaving at least 17 cabinet seats empty.
Many of them have accused Mr Maliki of sidelining them.
A BBC correspondent says the crisis is worrying for the US, which wants to see progress before withdrawing troops.