Dubai: Iraqis who had hoped politicians were inching closer to forming a government were yesterday told to keep on waiting after a meeting in Iraq's northern city of Arbil to discuss power-sharing adjourned without reaching a deal.
It is hoped that Eyad Allawi's Iraqiya will agree to accept the position of speaker of parliament when the meeting continues today.
"We must be equal in rights, duties and power-sharing, without anyone having the upper hand," said Allawi, who has accused incumbent Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki of monopolising power. He also says Iran has exerted pressure to prevent him becoming prime minister.
While Allawi has insisted that the results of the election should be respected, Al Maliki has referred to the need to respect the Constitution, which reserves ultimate authority for the premier.
Right to select premier
"Partnership must be concluded with true partners who respect the Constitution," Al Maliki said.
Al Iraqiya politicians said that their Sunni-backed party, which had previously insisted that it had won the right to select the premier, was now being pressured to also forego the presidency and accept the lesser position of parliamentary speaker.
Iraq has been without a government since an inconclusive election on March 7, which gave Al Iraqiya an edge, fuelling tensions as the sectarian carnage unleashed after the 2003 US-led invasion recedes and US forces prepare to withdraw in 2011.
Government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh said that despite outstanding issues that needed to be resolved with Al Iraqiya, parliament would meet on Thursday to choose a speaker, the first step towards forming a new government.
Efforts to minimalise Al Iraqiya's power could already be igniting tension, as Al Qaida attacks have been on the rise — potentially because they feel Sunni power in Iraq is waning. On Monday, twin bombings in Shiite holy cities targeting Iranians killed at least 18 people, 10 of them worshippers.
Suicide bomber
Police and local officials said the attacks also wounded 58 people, mostly Iranian worshippers. In Karbala, a suicide bomber drove alongside a bus carrying worshippers and then detonated his payload, police officials said.
Meanwhile, a Kuwaiti daily says Al Maliki is set to visit five Gulf Cooperation Council countries to thank them for supporting stability and security in his country.
Al Maliki will travel to the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman, and hold talks with leaders on the situation in Iraq, the formation of a government and the next Arab summit in Iraq, Al Dar reported yesterday, citing well-informed Iraqi sources.
No date was mentioned, but the sources said the visits could take place within days.
According to the report, Al Maliki will focus on Kuwait, where he will seek to "start a new chapter with the Kuwaitis on ways to reinforce bilateral relations".
— With additional inputs from Habib Toumi, Bahrain Bureau Chief
