Allawi in Qatar on Iraqi developments

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, whose Iraqiya List won the most seats in the March parliamentary elections, arrived in Doha on Monday to discuss with Qatari officials Iraqi and regional developments, according to Qatari news agency. “Iraq is passing through a “crucial phase of its history, so such tours come to put the Arab leaders in the picture,” in turn enabling these leaders to participate “in maintaining the safety of Iraq and the region.” “We are in the last mile on the way to becoming a stable country,” Allawi told Qatari news agency. “The visit aims to consult with the Qatari leadership in issues that concern the regional stability,” he added. Tension is rising in Iraq as no signs of a new government to be formed soon more than two months after the elections. The results of the March 7 parliamentary elections showed the Iraqiya List winning 91 seats in the 325-member parliament, closely followed by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition, with 89 seats. Allawi insists he has the right to form a new government because he won the highest number of seats. Yet a recent alliance between al-Maliki’s State of Law and the Iraqi National lists formed the largest faction in parliament with 159 deputies. Now, all blocs are waiting for the results to be ratified by the Federal Court, as well as a court ruling on whether nine winning candidates should be disqualified, a decision which could threatens Allawi’s initial victory. SH (S) 1