Iraqi leaders working towards a new government

Iraqi leaders have reached a deal to form a new government that will give Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki a second term as Iraq's leader, according to The Washington Post and The New York Times.

In an effort to maintain his political bloc, called Iraqiya, Mr. Maliki's rival, Ayed Allawi, a secular Shiite, decided to join the new government after previously having said that he would not back a new government. It is not yet certain what position Mr. Allawi, (who served as an interim Prime Minister after the American Invasion in 2003), will have in this new government, but his role is expected be decided on before parliament meets tomorrow.

The Iraqiya, which won the most seats in the March election, was given control over a new committee overseeing national security and position of Speaker of the Parliament after the bloc agreed to join the new government.

"There was too much pressure from our own political groups. Unfortunately a deal was made, and now we have to concentrate on the ministries," said a leading member of parliament from the Iraqiya bloc. "We didn't want Iraqiya to split."

The United States had been pushing for a power-sharing plan between Mr. Allawi and Mr. Maliki, and the decision for Iraqiya to join the new government is one that defers to this power-sharing arrangement.

The precise structure of the new government is still unclear after tonight and may take some time before it is officially resolved. The country's new parliament will be meeting tomorrow to ratify the agreement.