New Iraqi government formation delay

The interim Iraqi President Jalal al-Talibani ruled out the announcement of the Iraqi government today after he said on Wednesday that the designated Prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari was to announce his government yesterday ( Thursday).

Talibani said that negotiations are continuous over the representation of the Arab Sunni and allocating certain posts for certain lists.

In another political development, Talibani ruled out what he called those "whose hands murdered Iraqis" from the pardon he had proposed after he took his constitutional oath on April 7th.

In a speech addressed to the Iraqi people on the occasion of the prophet's birth anniversary, Talibani said that the pardon does not include "those who kill innocent people in mosques, churches and markets." He also called for work altogether in order to achieve national unity and to come up with the national unity government.