Iraq Election Winner Rules Out Working With Prime Minister

Al-Iraqiyah coalition leader Iyad Allawi

The winner of Iraq's March elections has ruled out participating in any new government led by current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

The decision by the Al-Iraqiyah faction, which is led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, further dampens hopes of any upcoming formation of a new administration.

Al-Iraqiyah narrowly defeated Maliki's grouping in the polls.

Al-Iraqiyah, a broadly secular coalition that drew most of its support from Sunni areas, won 91 seats out of the 325-member parliament in the March 7 polls, two more than Maliki's State of Law alliance, a Shi'ite grouping.

Neither came close to winning an overall majority, and no new government has been formed since.

Allawi insists Al-Iraqiyah should have the first opportunity to form a coalition.

compiled from agency reports