Shiite blocs close to sealing deal

BAGHDAD - Iraq moved towards forming a new government under a new prime minister yesterday as the two Shiite religious political blocs reached an agreement on sharing power.

It is likely Prime Minister Nouri Maliki will lose his job to seal the deal between his State of Law coalition and the Iraqi National Alliance.

The understanding confirms Iraq's majority Shiite community will continue to dominate the Government in alliance with the Kurds who enjoy autonomy close to independence in the north of the country. The new Shiite grouping will have 163 seats in the 325-seat Parliament and the Kurds have a further 43 seats.

Shut out are the mostly Sunni Arab followers of Iyad Allawi's al-Iraqiya group, who hold 91 seats. A new government will try to incorporate part of Allawi's bloc so the Sunni do not feel wholly excluded.

- Independent