Iraqi President Talabani Asks Pm Al-Maliki To Form A New Gov'T Within 30 Days

Iraqi President Talabani asks PM al-Maliki to form a new gov't within 30 days

2010-11-26 00:19:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Thursday formally requested Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a new government in a time period of no more than 30 days, officials said.

Talabani, who was elected two weeks ago, called on al-Maliki to form a new government 'that we hope will be a government of national partnership and will not exclude anyone,' referring to Iraq's Shia, Kurdish, and Sunni groups.

The official appointment came a day before the end of the 15 day constitutional deadline given to the President to appoint someone to form a government. The deadline came into effect when he was re-elected.

"I know and you know well that the responsibility I am undertaking is not an easy task especially in the current circumstances that our country is passing through," Maliki said after accepting Talabani's request.

Maliki, 60 and a Shia, also called upon 'the great Iraqi people in all its sects, religions and ethnicities' and 'my brothers, the politicians, to work to overcome all differences and to put these differences behind us.'

"I know and you know well that the responsibility I am undertaking is not an easy task especially in the current circumstances that our country is passing through," he added.

On March 7, the elections for 325 members of Iraq's Council of Representatives were held, but political and legal discussions have prevented the convening of Parliament. If al-Maliki does in fact form a government by the end of the 30-day limit, a time period of 9 months without a functioning legislature would come to an end.

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