Iraq to Vote on New Government After 9 - Month Gap

[Elmore Furth]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's parliament is due to vote on a new government on Tuesday, nine months after an inconclusive election left politics in limbo and delayed investments to rebuild the country after years of war.

Lawmakers are scheduled to begin voting on Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's 42-strong cabinet list -- which leaves Kurdish veteran Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari in place and includes current Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani as deputy prime minister for energy -- at 2 p.m. (11 a.m. British time).

Highlighting the ethnic and sectarian divides that pervade the war-ravaged country, parliament had to postpone the vote on Monday after last-minute factional disputes and political horse-trading over posts delayed the government's formation.

Maliki has yet to decide on permanent choices for some positions, including sensitive security-related ministries such as defence and interior.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/12/21/world/international-uk-iraq-politics.html?ref=world

[elias49]

1. Yep. We sure won THAT 'war'. eom