Some politicians are now talking of several more weeks before a cabinet may be named, leaving government in limbo at time when economic reconstruction and the struggle against insurgents are pressing priorities.
Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who walked out of a chaotic and inconclusive second sitting of the National Assembly Tuesday, remains in a strong position, nine months after being appointed under the U.S.-led occupation authorities.
To improve their negotiating position, most Sunni lawmakers, including interim President Ghazi al-Yawar, have allied with the 40-strong bloc of Prime Minister Allawi, a secular Shi'ite whose chances of retaining power in a new government are increasing the longer the Kurdish and Shi'ite blocs fail to agree. "The Kurds and Shi'ites cannot force a candidate upon us. They are paying the price of ignoring Allawi," said Sunni member of parliament Mishan al-Jibouri.
"Allawi played this brilliantly and we messed up," an official in one of the Shi'ite alliance parties said. "Expect limbo for some time."
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=625587&page=2
------------------------------------------------
I guess clerics don't make the best politicians. Allawi now has the Sunni's on his side, but more importantly from what I have seen he seems to be gathering supporters inside both the Kurdish and UIA list. Getting a 2/3rds majority would be almost impossible, but 40% can prevent a government from being formed.