Iraq’s main Shiite parliamentary bloc has chosen incumbent Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for prime minister, possibly bringing the country one step closer to ending seven months of political deadlock.
Anti-U.S. Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc, which won 39 seats in March’s parliamentary elections and has been seen as the kingmaker in forming a government, endorsed Maliki on Friday. This cleared the way for the National Alliance (NA) to announce its decision the same day. Sadr had previously opposed Maliki.
