Talabani most likely to be president – Dabbagh

BAGHDAD /Iraqi News Incumbent President Jalal Talabani is the most likely among all candidates for the presidential post in Iraq, according to a leading member of the Dawlat al-Qanoon bloc on Saturday. “Definitely, the Dawlat al-Qanoon (State of Law) bloc is seeking an understanding with the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) before sitting at a roundtable to reach agreement over essential things i.e. the premiership goes to either of the two blocs while the presidency to Jalal Talabani,” Ali al-Dabbagh told Iraqi News. “Understanding prior to dialogue would accelerate the formation of a government and would cut short a lot of time and efforts,” he added. Earlier, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) chief Ammar al-Hakeem and the Kurdish al-Rafidain Brotherhood list chief Yonadem Kenna discussed the latest political developments after the parliamentary elections, held in March, according to a statement published on the SIIC web site. Hakeem’s INA has won 70 seats in the new parliament, coming third to Iyad Allawi’s al-Iraqiya bloc that won 91 seats, and incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Dawlat al-Qanoon that won 89 seats. AmR (P) 2