Iraq breaks impasse; Maliki to form govt

BAGHDAD, (Reuters) – Shi’ite Nuri al-Maliki was  re-nominated as Iraqi prime minister on Thursday as fractious  politicians ended an eight-month deadlock that raised fears of  renewed sectarian warfare.  

A pact on top government posts reached late on Wednesday  brought together Shi’ites, Sunnis and Kurds in a power-sharing  arrangement similar to the last Iraqi government, and could help  prevent a slide back into the sectarian bloodshed that raged  after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.  

In a sign of turbulent relations between the partners,  lawmakers from the Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance of former Prime  Minister Iyad Allawi walked out of the parliamentary session at  which Maliki was chosen for a second term. Many Sunnis said they  doubted Maliki could forge national unity. 
 
“Today is the day of victory. The victory of the true Iraqi  will,” re-elected President Jalal Talabani told parliament. 
 
Celebratory gunfire rang out in the streets of Baghdad.  
In its first steps to implement the deal, parliament met for  only the second time since an inconclusive March election,  electing Talabani, a Kurd, as president and Iraqiya lawmaker  Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni, as speaker.