Iraqi PM unlikely to form gov't until year's end

[December 11, 2010]  IRBIL, Iraq (AP) -- Iraq's prime minister is still seeking Cabinet nominations from the country's top politicians, signaling he likely will not form a new government much earlier than the Dec. 25 deadline, as promised.

Nouri al-Maliki had pledged to announce his new government by Dec. 15 and end the political deadlock that began with inconclusive parliamentary elections nine months ago.

Al-Maliki appealed for nominations Saturday at a meeting of the Kurdish Democratic Party and said he would still meet the constitutional deadline of Dec. 25 for announcing Iraq's new leadership.

The meeting was also attended by Sunni and Shiite Arab politicians with whom al-Maliki has had to create uneasy alliances after his political party fell short of winning the most seats in parliament in the March elections.

[Associated Press]

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