Iraq's acting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called upon Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday to seek support in forming a coalition government and ending months of political uncertainty in Iraq, dpa reported.
"The monarch reiterated Jordan's full backing for the Iraqi brethren in their efforts to maintain security and stability in Iraq, which is a cornerstone for the region's stability," a statement by the Jordanian royal court read.
A power struggle among leaders of Iraq's main parliamentary blocs has prevented the formation of an Iraqi government, seven months after the general elections in the violence-torn country.
Al-Maliki, who has continued to act as prime minister until a new government can be formed, hopes to enlist Jordan's support in convincing the leader of the al-Iraqiya bloc, Iyad Allawi, to join his State of Law Party in forming a coalition cabinet, diplomats said.
Allawi, who leads a cross-sectarian bloc that won the largest number of seats in the March elections, enjoys close ties with the Sunni Hashemite kingdom.
Allawi has, so far, categorically refused the idea of forming a coalition government under al-Maliki's leadership. Al-Maliki's bloc got the second highest number of votes last spring.