Iraq's Prime Minister said on Saturday he is the only nominee from his political party to run the nation's next government, rejecting suggestions of a consensus candidate to satisfy those concerned about his leadership.
Nouri al-Maliki's comments revealed an unwillingness to budge in negotiations with his Shiite partners over forming Iraq's likely next government despite a process that has dragged on in the nearly three months since the March 7 election left the country without a clear winner.
Other Shiite political groups and religious leaders whose support al-Maliki is depending on have been lukewarm at best about him remaining in the job.
Asked by reporters if his State of Law political coalition would compromise on a candidate to satisfy the concerns, al-Maliki said there is "only one nominee to be a Prime Minister."
"No, the State of Law insists on its candidate," al-Maliki told reporters in the city of Najaf.
Al-Maliki's State of Law coalition came in second in the election behind a coalition backed by Iraq's minority Sunnis. But no single group won an outright majority, making a coalition government necessary.
The Prime Minister's party has joined up with the religious Shiite Iraqi National Alliance in hopes of capturing enough seats in parliament to run the next government.
{{/usCountry}}The Prime Minister's party has joined up with the religious Shiite Iraqi National Alliance in hopes of capturing enough seats in parliament to run the next government.
{{/usCountry}}The leader of one of the two main political parties that make up the alliance, powerful Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, has said he does not believe al-Maliki has enough Iraqi or international support to remain Prime Minister.
The other wing of the Iraqi National Alliance, led by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, intensely dislikes al-Maliki because he crushed their Mahdi Army militia in 2008 and jailed thousands of them.
The Sadrists initially rejected al-Maliki as head of a new government. But politicians involved in negotiations say Sadrists are now softening in the face of pressure by neighbouring Shiite power Iran to back al-Maliki.
Al-Maliki, whose political coalition fell two seats behind his Sunni-backed rival, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, has demanded ballot recounts and other legal challenges in an attempt to stay in power.