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President Talabani to stand for second
term
17.1.2006
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Iraqi President says he ask for greater executive
powers for himself within coming government.
BAGHDAD - Iraq's outgoing President Jalal
Talabani said Tuesday he would seek a second term
when the new parliament convenes following last
month's election.
"The Kurdish list has put me forward as a candidate
and I have accepted," Talabani, a Kurd, told a news
conference.
The election of the country's three-man presidential
council will be one of the first orders of business
for new MPs elected on December 15.
The presidential council is elected by a two-thirds
majority of MPs and the president then chooses a
candidate from the largest party to form a
government. |
Iraqi
President : Jalal Talabani
Photo: Reuters
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Final parliamentary election results are expected to
be announced at the weekend, allowing parliament to
convene next month.
But Talabani, who has served as president on a
transitional basis since last April, said he would
also ask for greater executive powers for himself
within what he hoped would be a broad-based
government of national unity.
"We don't just want a government of the Kurds and
Shiites," he said of the likely two largest
formations in parliament.
Sunni Arab representatives "have the interest of the
country in mind, that's why I'm convinced they'll
agree with us on setting up a national unity
government", Talabani said.
Negotiations on setting up a government will only
resume after final general election results are out,
he said.
US authorities are keen to encourage the formation
of a broad-based government in a bid to undermine
the insurgency which draws its strength from Iraq's
disempowered Sunni minority.
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