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Iraqiya to join Maliki-led Iraq govt

BAGHDAD - Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya political coalition will take part in a new Iraqi government headed by incumbent premier Nuri al-Maliki, a senior Iraqiya lawmaker said on Wednesday.

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Iraqiya, which won the most seats in Iraq’s parliamentary election on March 7, joins a Kurdish alliance in supporting Maliki and his Shia bloc, assuring the incumbent of a second term.

The Iraqiya lawmaker, who asked not to be named, said: “yes, of course” when asked if Iraqiya has agreed to join the government following a meeting of leading politicians aimed at completing a deal on a new government.

Iraqiya will decide on a nominee from the party for speaker of parliament at a meeting on Thursday, the lawmaker said.

US praises for breaking political stalemate

The Obama administration praised Iraqi politicians on Wednesday for apparently breaking an eight-month impasse when the Iraqiya alliance agreed to join a new government headed by incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

“The apparent agreement to form an inclusive government is a big step forward for Iraq,” Antony Blinken, national security adviser to US Vice President Joe Biden, said in a statement.

“Iraq’s leaders negotiated and apparently agreed to a major redistribution of powers that creates real checks and balances against the abuse of power by any one group.”