MP says Allawi bloc will not pull out of government
Political leaders strive to break deadlock
Dubai: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Eyad Allawi's Al Iraqiya that has been caught in a deadlock with current Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki will not pull out of the government under any circumstances, Kurdish MP Khalid Al Shuani told Gulf News.
Leaders of Iraq's political blocs met in Arbil yesterday ahead of tomorrow's scheduled assembly of parliament.
Iraq has yet to form a government after elections were held in March.
Al Shuani said major issues have been settled and only minor issues are still pending and could be sorted out later.
Despite some opposition to participate in the new government, Al Iraqiya MP Hassan Allawi confirmed that the party will not pull out, even if it means some of its members will not participate.
MP Sa'ad Al Muttalibi of the State of Law party however, told Gulf News that the Al Iraqiya party was split on backing Al Maliki for the premiership.
Al Muttalibi stressed that the demands made by Al Iraqiya in cancelling the accountability and justice commission and the return of security and intelligence officers of the pre-2003 era into service are important issues that are not accepted by the majority and insisted upon by Al Iraqiya.
National alliance
Al Muttalibi told Gulf News that in the event of Al Iraqiya's refusal to reach an agreement, the Iraqi National Alliance will continue to form a political majority government, without the Al Iraqiya leadership, but with all its components that see eye to eye with the national alliance.
Meanwhile, Iraq's Kurds are holding firm to their claim on the country's presidency and the once-dominant Sunni minority is trying to push for checks on the powers of Al Maliki as the country faces a looming parliamentary deadline to choose a new leadership.
Top political leaders met for the second day yesterday to find a way out of the country's eight-month political deadlock.
But producing a deal by tomorrow's scheduled parliamentary session is difficult.
Standing in the way are issues such as how to apportion key government posts, what role to give the Sunni-backed Iraqiya coalition led by a senior Shiite politician and the deep mistrust among political factions.
