Iraqi political rivals fail to reach consensus in power-sharing deal

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former Prime Minsiter Iyad Allawi were unable to reach a deal Monday, the first of three days of talks to discuss a proposed power-sharing accord. The country's Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish blocs have been unable to reach a compromise.

Nouri al-Maliki (L) et Iyad Allawi (R) RFI

The meeting in the northern city of Arbil followed a weekend agreement between the National Alliance, the main Shiite bloc, led by Nuri al-Maliki, and a Kurdish coalition headed by Jalal Talabani.

"An agreement was reached ... in which Talabani will continue as head of state, Maliki will stay on as prime minister and Iyad Allawi’s Sunni-backed Iraqiya party will choose its candidate for parliament speaker," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Sunday.

But opening remarks Monday indicated that neither Maliki nor Allawi had backed down from their positions, prolonging a deadlock that has left Iraq without a government since elections in March.

"It is necessary quickly to form a government which reflects the results of the elections," said Allawi, whose party narrowly won the polls and who accuses Maliki of refusing to respect the results.

Maliki in his remarks referred to respect for the constitution, which reserves maximum rights for the premier's post.

Members of Allawi's Iraqiya party said the party was being pressed to accept the post of parliament speaker.

None of the main parties won enough of the 325 seats in parliament in March to form a majority government. The supreme court on 24 October ordered MPs to resume work and choose a speaker.

The constitution stipulates that a speaker, president and prime minister must be elected in that order.

Leaders said talks would continue in Baghdad on Tuesday and Wednesday.