Turkish FM pushes Iraqi leaders for consensus over new gov 't (2)

"I am in Iraq to consult with the country's major political players on how to break the impasse over who should lead the country. Turkey wants the establishment of a secure and stable Iraq, and will exert efforts to that end," Davutoglu told reporters in Arbil before his meeting with Barzani.

Davutoglu later headed to Baghdad and met with Iraqi incumbent Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki. He will also have separate meetings with Iraqi National Movement leader Ayad Allawi, Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi, Deputy Prime Minister Rafi al-Issawi, UN special representative to Iraq Ad Melkert and the leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Ammar al-Hakim.

Iraq's second general election led to a deadlock since none of the main blocks have enough votes for 325 seats in the parliament to establish a majority government.

The political blocs reached an agreement on Saturday that al- Maliki will stay in office for another term while the Iraqia political bloc will choose a candidate for the parliament speaker post, the state-run television of Iraqia quoted the government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh as saying Sunday.

Source: Xinhua
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