Iran backed bloc nominates Basra governor for the post of the Iraqi Prime Minister

An Iranian-backed bloc in Iraq's parliament has proposed goverr of Basra province as country's next prime minister, said officials aware of situation. Basra is an oil-rich province in Iraq.  proposal by bloc was promptly rejected by Iraqi protestors who demanded an independent candidate to take over government.  Fatah bloc, which includes leers associated with paramilitary Popular Mobilization Units, supported by Iran, proposed Goverr Asa al-Eidani for premier. 

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According to two officials who spoke on conditions of anymity, President Barham Saleh received a memorandum from parliament which stated that Iran-backed bloc is largest in house and refore has right to minate next premier. 

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Deline to minate new PM missed twice

Outgoing Higher Education Minister Qusay al-Suhail has also withdrawn his mination for prime minister. Qusay-al-Suhail h been rejected by protestors. Pressure from demonstrations led Prime Minister il Abdul-Mahdi to anunce his resignation late last month. That was after Iraq's most powerful religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, withdrew support for Abdul-Mahdi's government. 

deline to minate a new prime minister has been missed twice due to disagreements on which is largest bloc in parliament following last year's elections. 

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re are currently two main blocs Sairoon, led by populist Shiite cleric Muqta al-Sr, and Fatah, heed by Hi al-Amiri. But numbers in blocs have continued to change since last year's elections, with an unkwn number of lawmakers leaving some blocs and joining ors. President Saleh sent court's response to parliament, asking legislature to say which is largest bloc.  In sourn city of Diwaniyah, an activist who was wounded last week in a bomb attack died of his wounds late Tuesday. Following news of his death, protesters attacked some offices of Iran-backed political parties in city.

(With inputs from AP)

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