Dubai: Three days before the announcement of the full results of the Iraq elections, Eyad Allawi's Iraqiya bloc on Monday started negotiations with two political groups to form a government, sources said.
Iraqiya officials said the talks with two Kurdish parties started on Sunday and they have agreed on the general principles. Detailed discussions, including the nomination of the president, a post that Kurds prefer to keep for themselves, will be held soon.
The State of Law bloc, led by Nouri Al Maliki, is still ahead by 11,000 votes but that would not be enough for the prime minister to retain power.
Sources close to Allawi told Gulf News that the bloc is ready to form alliances with any group other than State of Law. Coalition talks did not include State of Law since Al Maliki has ruled out the possibility of joining a national unity government proposed by Allawi.
