Untitled - orsam

The PM assured the gathered reporters of his commitment to the agreements signed
between the political blocs before the reconvening of Parliament on Nov. 11, in which a
power-sharing deal was brokered to end the eight-month political deadlock over the
right to lead the government.
Earlier this week Mr. Maliki asked all parliamentary blocs to nominate their candidates
for the different ministries which will be allocated, in part, according to a point system
based on the number of seats each bloc attained in the March 7 elections.
A number of blocs have already staked claims on the key Finance and Oil Ministries,
indicating that the task of forming a cabinet that will satisfy the different factions on the
Iraqi political arena is going to be something of a challenge. (AK News)
A State of Law Coalition (SLC) member reported today that the bloc’s leader and Iraqi
Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki nominated on Friday the former Oil Minister and
Independents List leader, Hussain al Shahristani, as deputy PM. Hussein Shahristani
Haidar al-Yasiri told AKnews that Mr. Maliki appointed Shahristani on the strength of his
strong track record in both the Oil and Electricity ministries.
Yasiri said that Shahristani accepted the post on the condition that he is granted the
legislative power to monitor the performance of the oil and electricity ministries.
Talks between Maliki and the Independents List are ongoing concerning the extent of the
post’s authority, Yasiri explained, to “make it an important post in addressing the
country’s energy crisis.”
Dr Hussain al-Shahristani, 68, a Shia Muslim nuclear scientist, was imprisoned and
tortured at Abu Ghraib prison for 11 years under Saddam Hussein for alleged "religious
activities".
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