In Iraq, a convoy carrying UN special envoy Ad Melkert was attacked Tuesday in the city of Najaf. Melkert was unhurt in the incident. Earlier, he met with the Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani as part of a push for Iraq to form a coalition government.

Ad Melkert: “It is now high time that parties are ready to meet and that they are ready to do so around one table on the bases of the principles embodied in the constitution and without any preconditions.”