The Iraqi Parliament said Monday that it can’t agree on who should lead the government and won’t even meet again for five weeks, deepening the political dysfunction in a country that threatens to break apart after the advance of Sunni Islamist militants.
The office of the acting speaker said parliament will meet next on Aug. 12. A statement cited the inability of political factions to reach “understanding and agreement” on a prime minister and two other top government posts. The United States, the United Nations and Iran want Iraq to form an inclusive government to keep the country from splitting among Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, wants a third term, but he has alienated Sunnis and Kurds.
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Reuters contributed to this report.