Disputes over sovereign ministries might undermine the formation of new Iraqi government by Prime Minister-designate Adel Abdul Mahdi, the New Khaleej reported yesterday.

The foreign, interior and oil ministries are the most disputed bodies, reports have said.
Monitors said that the prime minister may be forced to appease the large blocs by giving them the ministries they request in order to secure strong political backing.

“All the political blocs formed negotiating committees that held a series of intense meetings with the prime minister prior to nominating their candidates for the government,” a source, who asked not to be named, told the New Khaleej.

The source added: “The prime minister-designate  started to face major challenges in the formation of his government due to interference and pressure from the political powers to get sovereign ministries. This caused a new political conflict.”

He revealed that the Kurdish democratic party had been seeking, for the first time, to take control of the oil ministry in return for conceding the financial ministry.

Meanwhile, the source said, Sunni forces have been working to manage the foreign ministry which is sought by a Shia party.