E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Shia merger deal in Iraq a work in progress
BAGHDAD - An alliance between Iraq's two main Shi'ite political coalitions to form the next government is far from concluded, with potentially divisive issues such as the nomination of a prime minister still unresolved.

The announcement this week that Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law bloc and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) would join forces in parliament was seen as a reminder to their Sunni-backed rival, Iraqiya, that the next prime minister will come from the major Shi'ite coalitions.

The strong showing by the cross-sectarian Iraqiya, led by secular Shi'ite former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, has raised Sunni expectations of a large role in government. Violence could ensue if they feel sidelined by majority Shi'ites.
Posted by: Steve White 2010-05-07
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=296226