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| Iraq |
| Shia merger deal in Iraq a work in progress |
| 2010-05-07 |
| 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 |