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Iraq stumbles into month 5 with no new government
Hopes that Iraq's parliament could convene this week fell apart Monday as the country stumbled into month five with no new government and the prime minister hitting a brick wall with his nominal Shiite allies, some of whom deeply oppose him staying in his post.
The heads of the main political blocs met Monday in the latest attempt to find common ground, but with no resolution on filling top posts in sight, they decided to delay the next session for two weeks, acting parliament speaker Fouad Massoum said.
That means more backroom negotiations as Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki tries to cobble together a coalition that will back him for a new term, while his rivals press for him to step down, all against a backdrop of the U.S. military preparing to withdraw all combat troops by September and all forces by the end of next year.
Shiite parties appeared to have made a breakthrough in early May when al-Maliki's State of Law and the Iraqi National Alliance, a Shiite bloc backed by Iran, announced a coalition that seemed to give them a sure hand to form the government. But they have since been deadlocked over al-Maliki, as some INA members staunchly reject a new term.