Shi’ites want names agreed

A TOP Shi’ite lawmaker yesterday said names of selections for top posts in the new Iraqi government must be agreed upon before parliament can convene next week, casting doubt on whether the legislature will meet as announced.

The next session was called for Monday to push past a political stalemate over who should be prime minister. But members of the dominant Shi’ite alliance questioned holding the meeting without first designating all top posts.

“If we don’t agree on the key posts, then why should we go to parliament?” Shi’ite lawmaker Khudayer al-Khuzai asked yesterday.