Iraq PM expects new govt by mid-December

[Desert Medic]

Iraq PM expects new govt by mid-December

Buzz up! ShareretweetEmailPrint AFP/HO – A handout picture released by the Iraqi presidency shows Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (centre right) …

Slideshow:Iraq – 1 hr 1 min ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq's new government should be in place by mid-December, putting an end to a months-long political impasse, Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki said on Saturday.

Maliki's remarks came two days after he was awarded a second term in the top job by President Jalal Talabani and given 30 days to form a cabinet, following a power-sharing deal that was agreed earlier this month.

"My timetable is, mid-December I can form a government," he told reporters at a news conference in Baghdad.

"Until now, there has been no agreement between the blocs about the ministerial portfolios."

He added: "The fears of delay of forming the government are legitimate, because if the cabinet is not formed within the time limit, God only knows what will happen and what direction the country will go in."

The re-selection of Talabani, a Kurd, and Maliki, a Shiite, to their posts and the naming of a Sunni Arab as speaker of parliament came after a power-sharing pact was agreed on November 10.

It also established a new statutory body to oversee security as a sop to ex-premier Iyad Allawi, who had held out for months to regain the top job after his Iraqiya bloc narrowly won the most seats in the March 7 election.

The support of Iraqiya, which garnered most of its seats in Sunni areas of the predominantly Shiite country, is widely seen as vital to preventing a resurgence of inter-confessional violence.

The Sunni minority which dominated Saddam Hussein's regime was the bedrock of the anti-US insurgency after the 2003 invasion.

Asked if Iraqiya would fully participate in the government, Maliki replied: "I think they will participate, we have dialogue with them, but if any party does not want to participate, we will go on."

"We hope that Iraqiya will take part as a whole, and that they agree to nominate the ministries they want."

Despite being lauded by international leaders including US President Barack Obama, the power-sharing pact has looked fragile ever since being agreed.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101127/wl_mideast_afp/iraqpolitics

[woookiee]

Thanks for the post.

[coplumber]

Thanks for the post.

[Kenny-Tx]

Thanks for posting. Not trying to be negative but, I don't see it happening by mid Dec.. I hope that I'm wrong.

[Desert Medic]

Thanks for posting. Not trying to be negative but, I don't see it happening by mid Dec.. I hope that I'm wrong.

30days is 30 days.. but you are rite.. it is Iraq.. regardless, we are moving forward, my fingers are crossed that Iraq actually betters its self and its people. Im hoping that Iraq actually wakes up one day and realizes they are free, and they act like it, to each other and their surrounding people. Yes im hoping to wake up one morning to a GIGANTIC RV and i can move forward for my family, but i know im just a tiny speck in the universe, and nobody really cares about that spec, so im hoping the larger picture (Iraq/Iraqis) pull it together, and soon!

[noeta]

"the power-sharing pact has looked fragile ever since forming" And that dear friends is why we all wait anxiously for the RV. We pray for the best but know that in this region of the world anything can happen.

[Inicio]

This is encouraging, If this article is accurate (big if), and Maliki has stated publicly the GOI will be fully formed by mid December, then it will be. He will not take the embarassment of being wrong and will not be crossed by others.

[chantelle7]

Thanks for posting. Not trying to be negative but, I don't see it happening by mid Dec.. I hope that I'm wrong.

Negative??? If I am a millionaire by mid December I see nothing but positive. We have to be patient, think about it for a second, if this happens even this year sometime we will all be smiling. Whether you are wrong or right I'll take it!

[kamm]

We can only hope. Thanks for the post. Steve

[dollarsense]

Lets see if this is done by the 15...... we can only hope