BAGHDAD: An alliance of Iraq's Shiite political blocs picked incumbent Nuri Al-Maliki Friday as its nominee for prime minister, alliance officials said, ending months of wrangling that had stalled formation of a government. The decision by the National Alliance, a merger of Maliki's Shiite-led State of Law coalition and the Tehran-friendly Iraqi National Alliance (INA), marked a breakthrough in talks among Iraq's political factions for a new government after a March 7 parliamentary election that produced no clear winner. “We have nominated Maliki as the candidate of the National Alliance,” Ali Al-Adeeb, a senior member of Maliki's Dawa party said. At least two other sources in a meeting of the National Alliance blocs confirmed the nomination, but a formal announcement had not yet been made.Sources said the nomination was agreed by State of Law, which has 89 seats in parliament, and the Sadrist political movement of anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr, the two key members of the National Alliance, as well as smaller factions. But it was not immediately clear if the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (ISCI) had signed up to the nomination. Winning support from the Sadrists, who have around 39 seats, was critical to Maliki's nomination. Sadrists had been opposed to a second term for the premier, who sent government troops to crush Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in 2008. While Maliki's nomination by the Shiite alliance was a breakthrough, he may yet face formidable opposition before a new government is formed. The Shiite union by itself was a handful of seats short of the 163 needed for a governing majority in parliament, meaning a deal with other blocs was still needed.
