Allawi Offers to Build Coalition Government

Iyad Allawi, a former Iraqi prime minister with strong ties to the United States who heads the secular bloc that has been declared the winner of the March election, says he’s willing to build a coalition government working with “all parties.” Nouri Al-Maliki, the incumbent whose bloc lost by 2 seats, is refusing to accept the election results and has vowed to overturn the outcome. He hopes that when the committee charged with purging those with ties to former ruler Saddam Hussein is finished, Allawi’s alliance will no longer have a plurality of seats. Al-Maliki is also calling for a re-count, although the election commission has rejected the idea saying it’s not feasible. The United Nations has endorsed the results of the election. With neither bloc having won an outright majority, Allawi will be given the first opportunity to form a coalition. If he fails to do so, Al-Maliki will have his chance.