Ex-militia chief blames U.S. for Iraq govt delays

Reuters report (July 31^st): Washington is holding up the formation of a new Iraqi government by insisting the two main election winners form a coalition, allowing Iraq's neighbours to meddle in its affairs, a top Shi'ite politician told Reuters.

Hadi al-Amiri, a parliamentarian who heads the Badr Organisation, the former armed wing of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council's (ISCI), said the United States was pressuring Iraqi leaders to form a government of the two main electoral blocs led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and former Premier Iyad Allawi.

He said Washington wanted to exclude others, including the Badr group, which won 11 seats in parliament.

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