Political deadlock in Iraq after coalition talks fail

Published on Monday 16 August 2010 16:55

The Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance of former Iraqi premier Iyad Allawi yesterday announced that it had formally broken off coalition talks with prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, likely delaying even further the formation of a government.

Talks between Mr Iraqiya and Mr Maliki's Shiite-led State of Law alliance did not begin until three months after the inconclusive 7 March vote. The political impasse has stirred tensions as US troops prepare to end combat operations this month, ahead of a full withdrawal next year, and raised the spectre of a return to widespread violence.

A spokeswoman for Mr Iraqiya said the bloc stopped negotiations after Mr Maliki described Mr Allawi's group as Sunni.

"We demand he apologises to the supporters of Iraqiya who voted for a national project and not a sectarian one," she said.

Iraqiya official Intisar Allawi said more than 26 of its 91 elected MPs were Shiite, as was Mr Iyad Allawi.

"Why does he call us a Sunni bloc? This is an insult," she said.