Iraq braces for tough talks on future govt

Initial reports suggest the negotiations for the new government will revolve around how broadly-based the conservative Shia United Iraqi Alliance, which holds the largest bloc of seats in the new parliament, want the government to be.

The Alliance as well as other parties have already indicated they will take advantage of the mandated 48-hour period to appeal the results of the December elections, with many saying their party was not awarded sufficient seats in the new parliament.

The elections were marked by voting along ethnic and sectarian lines, with the ruling Shia religious-based United Iraqi Alliance, which includes Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's Dawa Party and Abdel Aziz Hakim's Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, winning 128 of parliament's 275 seats.