Talabani officially assigns PM Maliki to form govt. in 30 days

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s President Jalal Talabani has officially assigned the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, Nouri al-Maliki, to form the new Iraqi government within thirty days from today (Thursday), the leader in the National Alliance, Hassan al-Sunaid, said on Thursday. “President Jalal Talabani has assigned the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, Nouri al-Maliki, to form the government within 30 days,” Sunaid was quoted as having told the semi-official Iraqiya TV Channel. After 8 months of argument and discussions that followed Iraq’s 7th March nationwide parliamentary elections, the Iraqi Parliament on Nov. 11, 2010, elected the candidate of al-Iraqiya bloc, Usama al-Nujeifi, for the post of Parliament’s Speaker, the candidate of the Sadrist Trend, Qusay al-Suheil as his 1st Deputy Speaker and the candidate of the Kurdistan Coalition, Aref Teifur as the 2nd Deputy Speaker. The Parliament also elected President Talabani for a second presidential term, and Talabani on his part had assigned Nouri al-Maliki to form the new government. SKH/SR 1