Maliki, Barazani withdraw signatures on deal with Iraqiya

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Leading member of the National Alliance Hassan al-Sunaid informed the leaders of political blocs that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barazani withdrew their signatures on the document of political agreement concluded with al-Iraqiya bloc, a key member in al-Ahrar (Liberals) bloc said on Saturday. “Maliki and Barazani withdrew their signatures because al-Iraqiya members did not participate in the session to elect President a president, speaker and prime minister,” Nassar al-Rubei told IraqiNews.com news agency. The Parliament had met late evening on 11/11/2010, after eight months of arguments and discussions that followed the March 7 parliamentary elections and electing the Iraqiya candidate Osama al-Nejeifi for the parliament speaker post and the Leader in the Sadrist Movement, Qusay al-Suhail as first deputy speaker and Kurdistan Alliance member Aref Teyfour as second deputy speaker. Incumbent President Jalal Talabani was re-elected for a second term in office and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki would form a new government. SKH (S)/AmR 1