Iraq Shiite Bloc Finds Mechanism to Choose Premier Candidate, Aswat Says

Two Shiite Muslim-led groups in Iraq that merged to form the biggest bloc in the new parliament have agreed on a mechanism to select their candidate for the premiership, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.

The State of Law group of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki wants him to serve another term, while the Iraqi National Alliance is backing Adel Abdel Mahdi, one of two vice presidents. Members of the bloc will vote and whoever gets 65 percent of the ballots will be named as the bloc’s sole candidate, the independent news agency said, citing Ali al- Adeeb, a senior State of Law member.

It wasn’t clear when the vote will take place. The bloc’s failure to put forth a candidate has contributed to a delay in forming a new government, six months after the March 7 parliamentary elections.

To contact the reporter on this story: Caroline Alexander in London at calexander1@bloomberg.net.

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