.. national political process based on a national identity, not racism and sectarianism,' al-Maliki said. 'We are committed to the law and the constitution.'

In response to one common Sunni demand, the release of officers from former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's regime, al-Maliki said that was a decision for the courts, not the prime minister, to take.

The prime minister said that sectarian divisions were interfering with the government's efforts to address problems with agriculture, healthcare, housing and education in the country.

'We all must work to preserve the ... unity of Iraq, to protect the country from outside interference and to stand up to the saboteurs and spoilers, so that we can build Iraq,' he said.