Jostling for key posts starts in earnest

Following the results of the country's landmark polls, Iraq entered a phase of intense backroom deal-making on Monday.

Following the results of the country's landmark polls, Iraq entered a phase of intense backroom deal-making on Monday to determine the make-up of the country's first elected executive since Saddam Hussein.

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According to the Iraqi electoral law's seat attribution system, the coalition of Shiite religious parties blessed by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani will hold 140 out of the National Assembly's 275 seats.

If it remains united, the Shiite powerhouse will hold an absolute majority in Parliament, but will still have to seek alliances to obtain the two-thirds majority needed to approve a presidential council and pass certain laws.

The president and his deputies will be tasked with choosing a prime minister, but the latter's cabinet only needs a simple parliamentary majority for approval.

"The word 'consensus' is beautiful, but also difficult to realise... Agree amongst yourselves and ally yourselves, and put to one side the operations of adding and subtracting because Iraq rejects division," the Al-Mashriq newspaper wrote on Monday in an editorial.

The Shiite list will have to form alliances with the Kurdish alliance -- which is set to obtain 75 seats in Parliament -- or with that of secular Shiite Prime Minister Iyad Allawi -- who has 40 -- to reach a two-thirds majority.