Functioning government seen at least two months away in Iraq

BAGHDAD — For Iraq, wracked by sectarian violence, the prospect of its leaders forming a new government is still elusive.

Politicians acknowledge that the major Iraqi parties remain far apart in their efforts to form a ruling coalition. They said disagreements focus on power-sharing, ministerial portfolios and a platform.

On Thursday, Iraq's new parliament convened for the first time since its election on Dec. 15, 2005. The parliamentary session lasted 30 minutes in absence of an agreement on a speaker or agenda, Middle East Newsline reported.

"We're still a long way from agreeing on a government," Kurdish representative Mahmud Othman said. "I expect that there still will be difficulties over choosing the prime minister." Read on.