Talabani to officially assign Maliki to form govt. this week

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi President Jalal Talabani will officially assign Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, the candidate of the National Alliance, to form a new Iraqi government this week, according to a senior Iraqi official on Saturday. “Consultations to form a new cabinet line-up and the distribution of the ministerial posts was postponed till after Eid al-Adha holidays,” Second Deputy Speaker Aref Tayfour told IraqiNews.com news agency. Tayfour added that Maliki, on his part, shall present the names of the candidates for the ministerial posts to the parliament after his assignment by the president. SKH (P)/AmR 1