Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister says he is the only nominee from his political party to lead the next government.
Nouri Al Maliki's comments appear to rule out any consensus candidate. Other Shiite political groups and religious leaders whose support is key are lukewarm at best about his continued leadership.
Reporters asked Al Maliki on Saturday if his State of Law political coalition would compromise on a candidate.
He replied that there's "only one nominee to be a prime minister."
The State of Law coalition has joined up with the religious Shiite Iraqi National Council in hopes of capturing enough seats in parliament to run the next government.
The indecisive result of the March 7 election makes forming a governing coalition necessary.
