More delays on Iraq government

[bemildred]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi politicians again delayed naming a government on Monday, prolonging a political vacuum seen aiding an insurgency but a senior politician said a cabinet could come as soon as Tuesday.

Jawad al-Maliki, a top member of the Shi'ite Muslim Iraqi National Alliance, the main Shi'ite coalition, said wrangling over appointments to key ministries had put off Monday's expected announcement of a proposed cabinet.

Rebel violence has surged in recent weeks as political momentum generated by January 30 elections has waned. Two twin car bombings killed 22 people on Sunday, and at least 180 Iraqi security personnel have died in the last six weeks.

Lawmakers have said the Shi'ite alliance has moved to form a government with the Kurds and minority Sunni Muslims. It rejected demands by caretaker Prime Minister Iyad Allawi that his party have a share of key ministries.

Yahoo News UK

[UpInArms]

1. Iraqis Try Again to Form New Government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4961477,00.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Iraqi politicians tried again Monday to end a nearly three-month deadlock over forming a new transitional government, and the death toll from well-coordinated car bombings targeting police and civilians in Saddam Hussein's hometown and Baghdad rose to 29.

Insurgents, meanwhile, launched two separate attacks aimed at Iraq's oil industry in the north, setting fire to pumps near Kirkuk and opening fire on police guarding a convoy of tanker trucks, officials said. Two policemen were wounded and three insurgents arrested in a one-hour gunbattle over the convoy, police said.

A suicide car bomb exploded in Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, wounding two civilians and slightly damaging a U.S. Marine vehicle, the American military said.

On Sunday, lawmakers loyal to Prime Minister-designate Ibrahim al-Jaafari said he was ready to announce a Cabinet that would exclude his interim predecessor, Ayad Allawi.

...more...

But... but... but... haven't we been hearing how wonderful the new Iraqi government is and how much progress is being made?

[bemildred]

2. Apparently the rent-a-stooges are fighting among themselves. nt

[Dhalgren]

3. Heh, "rent-a-stooge" I like that. Very apropos