Iraqiya bloc under pressure

Baghdad: Iraq's parliament elects a new speaker on Monday, eight months after an inconclusive election, in a move that could force Sunni forces to join a Shiite-Kurd alliance in a national unity government or risk falling apart.

The cross-sectarian Iraqiya alliance of former premier Eyad Allawi said on Thursday it might boycott Monday's session, called to try to break a political deadlock that has stoked tensions in Iraq.

But incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's Shiite allies and the Kurdish lawmakers who appear set to back him for a new term may be able to muster a quorum without Iraqiya.

They may even be helped in that by a group of Iraqiya lawmakers who disagree with its steadfast refusal to support Al Maliki for a second term, and also by another bloc of mainly Sunni lawmakers who seem willing to ally themselves with him.

"We are not ready to delay the formation of the government any longer than this and we are with anyone who can get half of the parliament plus one," said dissenting Iraqiya parliamentarian, Ahmad Al Ureibi.