US Tries to Impose Iraq Election Settlement
Proposed deal would see incumbent and rival split prime ministerial term. The United States is trying to resolve the growing crisis over the formation of a new Iraqi government, with a deal between current prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and his main rival Iyad Allawi under which each man would hold the post of prime minister for two years at the head of a coalition government, The Independent has learned. Fearful of growing political turmoil that would make it difficult or embarrassing to withdraw its remaining combat troops by August this year [They will not be withdrawn. Thousands of them will remain.], as President Barack Obama has pledged, Washington has arranged talks about a joint government. The proposal is for Mr Maliki and Mr Allawi to split the four-year prime ministerial term, according to Dr Mahmoud Othman, who is a veteran member of the Baghdad parliament.