Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) – Nearly eight months after Iraq’s disputed elections, political rivals of the country on Sunday agreed on a power-sharing deal.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh announced that the political parties reached an agreement under which Jalal Talabani would continue as head of state and Nuri al-Maliki would stay on as prime minister.

The National Alliance and the Kurdish coalition signed the deal, while the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc agreed to give support only if they were given the post of speaker.

“Iraqiya has not agreed for the moment over which side will have the parliament speaker’s position and which side will have the presidency,” the spokesman added.

Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc had claimed the maximum seats in the March 7 polls but did not earn enough votes to form a government. Allawi said discussions on the key posts continued between the political rivals.

“There is a draft agreement with the Iraqiya party, but there are still some problems to resolve,” Dabbagh said.

Parliament is likely to meet this Thursday to decide on speaker. The spokesman further disclosed the leaders of two political parties would meet in the Kurdistan capital, Arbil, and formally announce the deal.

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