"Last Thursday, The Arab League warned Iraqi politicians that they need to form a new government soon. There have been concerns about Iraq's stability as the United States prepares to withdraw all its forces from the country by the end of next year. "The Iraqi National Alliance includes anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Sadr's supporters dislike Mr. Maliki because his government forces crushed their militia in 2008." Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Iraqi supreme court ratifies March election results
Iraq ruling clears way for faster pace to government formation talks which remain in limbo.
BAGHDAD - Iraq's supreme court on Tuesday ratified the results of the country's March general election, clearing the way for a faster pace to government formation talks which remain in limbo.
The ruling confirms initial results released in late March that put ex-premier Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya bloc in the lead, followed closely by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law alliance.
"The court has decided to approve the results of the elections," supreme court chief Midhat al-Mahmoud said.
Mahmoud reiterated a previous court decision, however, that deals a blow to Allawi's claim to have the right to be awarded the first opportunity to form a government.
"The biggest parliamentary bloc ... will be decided in the first session of the parliament," he said, indicating that a coalition agreed before the Council of Representatives has its first session would gain primacy over Iraqiya.
Iraq's constitution requires that parliament be seated within 15 days of the certification of election results.
Iraqiya won 91 seats in the Iraq's 325-member parliament, followed by State of Law with 89. The Iraqi National Alliance, led by Shiite religious groups, took 70 seats, while a coalition of parties hailing from Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region hold 59 seats.
The fact that no clear winner emerged from the March 7 poll has meant that protracted coalition negotiations have ensued as blocs jockey to form a parliamentary majority.
Earlier this month, however, State of Law and the INA announced they would form a post-election coalition, leaving them just short of a majority, though they have yet to formalise the arrangement.
The ratification ruling was hailed by the US embassy as "an important step in the right direction."
"With the election results officially certified, we call on Iraq's political leaders to move forward without delay to form an inclusive and representative government," it said in a statement.
The court also ruled that two successful candidates would be barred from taking their seats but would be replaced by colleagues from within their own political parties.
Furat Mohsen Saeed was a serving military officer while Ammar Abdulsattar al-Karbuli had received a prison sentence. They were members of the INA and Iraqiya respectively.
Full results from the election were initially expected to be ratified in early April, but counting delays, multiple complaints and appeals from political groups have caused setbacks.
Iraq ruling clears way for faster pace to government formation talks which remain in limbo.
BAGHDAD - Iraq's supreme court on Tuesday ratified the results of the country's March general election, clearing the way for a faster pace to government formation talks which remain in limbo.
The ruling confirms initial results released in late March that put ex-premier Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya bloc in the lead, followed closely by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's State of Law alliance.
"The court has decided to approve the results of the elections," supreme court chief Midhat al-Mahmoud said.
Mahmoud reiterated a previous court decision, however, that deals a blow to Allawi's claim to have the right to be awarded the first opportunity to form a government.
"The biggest parliamentary bloc ... will be decided in the first session of the parliament," he said, indicating that a coalition agreed before the Council of Representatives has its first session would gain primacy over Iraqiya.
Iraq's constitution requires that parliament be seated within 15 days of the certification of election results.
Iraqiya won 91 seats in the Iraq's 325-member parliament, followed by State of Law with 89. The Iraqi National Alliance, led by Shiite religious groups, took 70 seats, while a coalition of parties hailing from Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region hold 59 seats.
The fact that no clear winner emerged from the March 7 poll has meant that protracted coalition negotiations have ensued as blocs jockey to form a parliamentary majority.
Earlier this month, however, State of Law and the INA announced they would form a post-election coalition, leaving them just short of a majority, though they have yet to formalise the arrangement.
The ratification ruling was hailed by the US embassy as "an important step in the right direction."
"With the election results officially certified, we call on Iraq's political leaders to move forward without delay to form an inclusive and representative government," it said in a statement.
The court also ruled that two successful candidates would be barred from taking their seats but would be replaced by colleagues from within their own political parties.
Furat Mohsen Saeed was a serving military officer while Ammar Abdulsattar al-Karbuli had received a prison sentence. They were members of the INA and Iraqiya respectively.
Full results from the election were initially expected to be ratified in early April, but counting delays, multiple complaints and appeals from political groups have caused setbacks.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Iraq's top court ratifies election results - Iraqiya bloc biggest winner
Iraq's Supreme Court on Tuesday ratified the results of the nation's March 7 parliamentary election, officially declaring the secular Iraqiya alliance the vote's biggest winner.
The televised announcement by the court's top judge marked the first major step toward resolving Iraq's election crisis and the seating of a new parliament. But the government impasse remains far from over, and it could still take weeks, perhaps months, before legislators elect new leaders.
The March vote left the country without a clear winner, as none of Iraq's six major political coalitions won a majority in the 325-seat legislature.
The confusion has led to months of ballot recounts, charges of fraud and court challenges.
Nearly all were brought by the State of Law alliance led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqiya, heavily backed by Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, is led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shia. Iraqiya won 91 seats, two more than the State of Law.
Iraq's next government will oversee the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq. The number of American forces is scheduled to shrink to about 50,000 by the end of August. All U.S. troops are scheduled to leave by the end of 2011.
Many Iraqis — as well as U.S. and United Nations officials — have expressed frustration with the legal wrangling that has delayed the court's final election approval.
Associated Press
Iraq's top court ratifies election results - Iraqiya bloc biggest winner
Iraq's Supreme Court on Tuesday ratified the results of the nation's March 7 parliamentary election, officially declaring the secular Iraqiya alliance the vote's biggest winner.
The televised announcement by the court's top judge marked the first major step toward resolving Iraq's election crisis and the seating of a new parliament. But the government impasse remains far from over, and it could still take weeks, perhaps months, before legislators elect new leaders.
The March vote left the country without a clear winner, as none of Iraq's six major political coalitions won a majority in the 325-seat legislature.
The confusion has led to months of ballot recounts, charges of fraud and court challenges.
Nearly all were brought by the State of Law alliance led by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Iraqiya, heavily backed by Iraq's Sunni Arab minority, is led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shia. Iraqiya won 91 seats, two more than the State of Law.
Iraq's next government will oversee the departure of U.S. troops from Iraq. The number of American forces is scheduled to shrink to about 50,000 by the end of August. All U.S. troops are scheduled to leave by the end of 2011.
Many Iraqis — as well as U.S. and United Nations officials — have expressed frustration with the legal wrangling that has delayed the court's final election approval.
Associated Press
