Sectarian differences in Iraq

The National Iraqi List led by the former prime minister Eyad Allawi held the government of Ibrahim al-Jaafari responsible for the worsening of violence and considered the government as "main reason in weakening national unity because it had practiced sectarian politics, and calls of revenge and avenge," and accused Jaafari's supporters of weakening the security state establishments, politicizing their inclination and strengthening their militias.

The Interim Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani described the attacks as "coward acts" which prevent the Iraqis from taking part in the formation of a national unity government."