Sources in the Iraqia List said that Iraq's former prime minister Iyad Allawi had strongly disagreed with a senior U.S. delegation during his talks held in the Kurdish city of Irbil. According to the sources, the Americans insist on Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's stay in office. The sources conveyed in a statement that the U.S. delegation, which is currently visiting the country, ahead of a visit by the U.S. national security adviser, offered Allawi to become President of the National Security Council, after the legislation of a special law on its formation, in return for keeping al-Maliki as the head of the next government.
According to the sources, Allawi has strongly refused the American offer, saying his list was entitled to form the next government as it emerged as the biggest bloc in March 7's elections.
Since the elections, the Americans urged Allawi and al-Maliki to reach a compromise on the government formation. However, contacts between them failed to reach an agreement.
A source in the Iraqia List said the Americans "usually do not interfere in any crisis, but they are watching it from distance. If they decide to intervene, then they are deciding on things."
