In Iraq, the political bloc led by Iyad Allawi is boycotting both parliament and cabinet. Iraqiya took the step after the government issued an arrest warrant for Tariq al-Hashemi, a vice-president who belongs to the bloc.

Allawi tells Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf that Iraqiya is now considering to end the boycott, but only if it sees conciliatory moves by Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister.

Allawi says he believes Maliki is heading down the road to dictatorship. He also calls for early elections, but says he would not necessarily run.