Nearly half of al-Maliki’s Cabinet is no longer participating in its meetings. On Sunday al-Maliki called for an emergency summit to end the political deadlock.

Nouri Al-Maliki: “We must search for solutions to these political problems that we are suffering from. I have called the main political leaders in the country for a meeting to discuss the main issues in the political process. The first meeting may happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow with these parties to look first of all at the political process and at the important strategic problems that face the government and the rebuilding of the country. We will then go on to look at the questions relating to the implementation of what we was agreed for the government’s agenda.”

U.S. officials have described the meeting as a make-or-break moment for the Iraqi government.