Issawi, UN envoy discuss efforts to form new govt.

BAGHDAD /Iraqi News The outgoing deputy prime minister, Rafie al-Issawi, has met with the special representative of the United Nations secretary general for Iraq (SRSG), Ad Melkert, to discuss efforts to form the upcoming government. The two officials have discussed a number of issues in light of the outcome of the parliamentary elections, according to a statement released by Issawi’s office and received by Iraqi News. The meeting has also tackled al-Iraqiya List’s talks with the winning blocs to form a new government. Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) had announced the parliamentary election results on Friday (March 26) in which former prime minister Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc obtained 91 out of the parliament’s 325 seats, followed by incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) with 89 seats, the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) with 70 seats and the Kurdistan Alliance with 43 seats. SS (P) 1