Iraq Coordination Framework nominates former minister for PM

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The Iraqi Coordination Framework Secretariat announced on Monday that it was nominating former Human Rights Minister and former Governor of Maysan Province Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani for Prime Minister.

"The coordination framework held Monday a meeting to choose its candidate for Prime Minister," the secretariat said in a statement. 

"In a positive atmosphere, the leaders of the coordination framework agreed unanimously to nominate Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani for prime minister," the statement added.

Iraqi National Security Advisor Qassem Al-Araji rejected on Sunday his candidacy for Prime Minister. "I thank the coordination framework that nominated me for Prime Minister," he said. However, he apologized, saying he could not accept the nomination.

"We hope that the brothers in the coordination framework will make their choices for the benefit of the people and the country," Al-Araji added.

The Iraqi coordinating framework had previously announced that it was forming a committee to choose a candidate for the premiership, provided that the candidate has no affiliation with any party.

Al-Fateh Alliance chief Hadi Al-Amiri and former Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki announced during a meeting within the coordination framework that they would not run for prime minister, while the committee agreed to accept the nomination of ministers from the Sadrist bloc.

"The candidate should have no affiliation with any certain party so that they do not owe it anything. They should be for all of Iraq," the secretariat said.

Iraq is currently undergoing political deadlock due to disputes over the election of a president and the formation of a government.