Little to show for Iraqi unity

Little to show for Iraqi unity

Shia religious groups have dominated the political landscape for the past four years and reports here suggest they may form an alliance that would yet again give them the majority in parliament to head the next government.

But there are those who warn of instability if Iyad Allawi and his coalition partners are left out of the political process. Allawi himself has warned of renewed bloodshed.

During the March election, Shia parties ran on separate tickets as there are deep divisions among Iraq's Shia political class.

But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's State of the Law coalition and the Shia-dominated Iraqi National Alliance have been in merger talks - their main disagreement seems to be the post of prime minister

And there are those who want them to put their differences aside in order to stay in power - questioning just how the secular alternative would be.

"Allawi is not good for us. He is a Baathist and secular," 19-year-old Ramez Fawaz, a supporter of the INA told me.

Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya list came out ahead in the elections – but only by two seats. Allawi has been outspoken against the influence of religious parties

He is a Shia, but Shia hardliners often dismiss his coalition as a Sunni bloc.

Not one political bloc got enough seats to rule alone. And this could be good for national reconciliation … that is if none of the successful lists are excluded from power

Some politicians from Shia religious parties have said Allawi's list should be part of any government. But none have so far endorsed him as prime minister

And while publicly most politicians call for a national unity government … there is little to show for that unity

It's still not clear what kind of power sharing deal will emerge - if one at all.