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Iraqi representatives of Moqtada al-Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki before announcing they will back Maliki
Representatives of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's political parties meet in Baghdad before announcing they will back Maliki to retain power. Photograph: Karim Kadim/AP
Representatives of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's political parties meet in Baghdad before announcing they will back Maliki to retain power. Photograph: Karim Kadim/AP

Iraq close to forming new government

This article is more than 13 years old
Kurdish MPs deciding whether to back Nouri al-Maliki, as Iraq breaks record for time taken to form government

Iraq is moving closer to ending the political deadlock that has now broken the world record for the length of time taken to form a new government.

The country's political parties have now exceeded the 208 days it took for Dutch politicians to agree to a coalition government in 1977.

Kurdish MPs were meeting today to discuss whether to back the incumbent prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.

The main Shia coalition only decided yesterday to nominate Maliki for a second term in office.

But the National Alliance, which includes Maliki's State of Law coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance of the radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, is four seats short of the parliamentary majority needed to confirm the appointment.

The secular Iraqiya bloc which narrowly won the election and is led by the former prime minister Iyad Allawi, has said it will oppose Maliki's bid to retain power.

It took nearly three months for the results of Iraq's parliamentary election on 7 March to be ratified, after numerous complaints and appeals.

The Kurds are likely to back Maliki but are expected to demand greater influence over the oil-rich Kirkuk region in return for their support.

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