U.S., Iranian pressures to form govt. soon – MP

U.S., Iranian pressures to form govt. soon – MP


September 2, 2010 - 07:38:58


BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: A legislator from Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) bloc revealed on Thursday that there were U.S. and Iranian pressures on all political parties to form an Iraqi government soon.
“The formation of a government is in its final stages at present in light of U.S. and Iranian pressures on all blocs to form a national partnership government as soon as possible,” Ezzat al-Shabandar told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
“U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Baghdad on Monday and met with leaders of political blocs to discuss the government formation crisis,” he said.
Biden’s visit coincided with the withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops from Iraq on Tuesday (Aug. 31) in accordance with the status of forces agreement (SOFA), signed between Baghdad and Washington on December 31, 2008.
Shabandar also revealed a “fresh political activity within the al-Iraqiya bloc,” adding the National Alliance has removed the veto on Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination.
Iraq’s March 7 nationwide elections had ended with the success of four main Iraqi political blocs, with Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya winning 91 seats, followed by Maliki’s State of Law with 89 seats, Ammar Al-Hakim’s Iraqi National Alliance (INA) with 70 seats and the Kurdistan Alliance of Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani as well as a number of Kurdish Islamic parties with 57 seats

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