WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- An Obama administration plan to restructure Iraq's government will break a political logjam that has left its citizens without needed services, officials say.
The proposal would retain Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister in a coalition that would reduce his authority, while establishing a power base Iraqi citizens would feel comfortable with, The New York Times said Friday.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reportedly made the proposal in a visit to Baghdad last week. It would alter Iraq's government by reducing Maliki's authority and setting up a committee with power to approve military appointments, review its budget and shape security policy, the newspaper reported.
Iraqi leaders are struggling to form a government after parliamentary elections about six months ago failed to determine a clear winner.
The proposed partnership would include Maliki's State of Law party, the Iraqiya party and the Kurdish alliance and would result in a coalition to give the country a new government without requiring a change to its constitution.
"We don't really see what other option there is out there," a U.S. official, who didn't want to be identified because he was discussing confidential negotiations, told the Times. "If we have a national unity government that is less efficient but perceived as representative and accountable to the Iraqi people, we think that's better for the future of Iraq."
The plan is likely to result in a new government within the next few weeks and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would visit Iraq at that time, the newspaper said.
