Updated on
Summary
Newly re-elected Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has reappointed Nouri Maliki, a Shia, as prime minister. The move comes after eight months of political deadlock which followed inconclusive elections in March. But the event was marred by a walkout by al-Iraqiyya, the main Sunni-backed alliance led by former PM Iyad Allawi. It said Mr Maliki had reneged on an agreement to reinstate four Sunni leaders who had been banned for alleged ties to Saddam Hussein's Baath party. US President Barack Obama welcomed the progress that Iraq had made in recent days. The president is encouraged by the substantial progress that has been made in forging an inclusive government that represents the Iraqi people and the results of this year's election, said a White House statement. The White House added that the US president had spoken to several Iraqi leaders in the run-up to the parliamentary session.
