Nov 25, 2010

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101125/wl_nm/us_iraq_politics

BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraq's president formally asked Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Thursday to form a new government, giving him 30 days to choose a cabinet from among Iraq's fractious Shi'ite, Kurdish and Sunni political factions.

The request from President Jalal Talabani came two weeks after political leaders reached an agreement to divide up the top government jobs, a deal that put Maliki, a Shi'ite, on track for a second term as premier.

Most of the work of uniting parties, agreeing to cabinet positions, and gaining political support had to be accomplished just to get this nomination in the first place. So this probably will not take 30 days to accomplish. In fact, it could happen rather quickly.

I had thought this formal recognition would occur on the 21st, but it took a few days longer.