The Unity bloc has a bear, the national symbol of Russia.

BBC: Russian media follows its paymasters

The 37-year-old MP was also part of the Sunni-backed Iraqiyya bloc, which holds some posts in Iraq's fragile national unity government but is also the main opposition to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

BBC: Iraq Sunni MP killed by suicide bomber

The main Sunni political bloc, the Iraqi Consensus Front, had pulled out of talks aimed at forming a national-unity government after the shrine bombing, but on Monday it announced that it would rejoin the discussions.

ECONOMIST: Iraq grows ever more sectarian | The

Besides the anti-terror proposals, ministers were to discuss increased cooperation between national anti-terror units and legislation to make acts committed outside the EU punishable inside the bloc.

CNN: Europe unites against terrorism