Largest Sunni bloc welcomes expanded UN role

The largest Sunni bloc in Iraq welcomed the international community's decision to expand the UN role in Iraq and open the door for the world body to promote talks to ease Iraq's sectarian bloodshed.

"The UN is a neutral party that can play a good role in Iraq. They have played good role previously and now, we need them to reactivate that role and expand it, so we welcome this renewed chance for them here in Iraq," said Salim Abdullah, a spokesman for the Iraqi Accordance Front, the largest Sunni political bloc in parliament.

"Finding a third party, however, does not lift the responsibility from the shoulders of the American administration," he added.