Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi speaks during the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi speaks during the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi speaks during the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (L), Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga (2nd L) and Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq (3rd L) participate in the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (L), Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga (2nd L) and Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq (3rd L) participate in the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (L), Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga (C) and Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Saleh al-Mutlaq participate in the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (L) listens as Kosovo's President Atifete Jahjaga speaks during the "Addressing violent extremism, a shared responsibility" session on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the Middle East and North Africa at the King Hussein Convention Centre at the Dead Sea May 23, 2015. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (R) and Lebanon's Prime Minister Tammam Salam (L) attend the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria in Bayan Palace March 31, 2015. Nearly 80 governments and dozens of aid agencies are meeting in Kuwait on Tuesday for a summit led by the United Nations which is hoping for major pledges towards an $8.4 billion appeal for Syria. REUTERS/Stephanie McGehee 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi (L) speaks with Prince Turki bin Faisal al-Saud of Saudi Arabia during the session "Iraq and Syria: The Strategic Context" in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 22, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS ROYALS)

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi gestures during the session "Iraq and Syria: The Strategic Context" in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 22, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi gestures during the session "Iraq and Syria: The Strategic Context" in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 22, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi gestures during the session "Iraq and Syria: The Strategic Context" in the Swiss mountain resort of Davos January 22, 2015. More than 1,500 business leaders and 40 heads of state or government attend the Jan. 21-24 meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) to network and discuss big themes, from the price of oil to the future of the Internet. This year they are meeting in the midst of upheaval, with security forces on heightened alert after attacks in Paris, the European Central Bank considering a radical government bond-buying programme and the safe-haven Swiss franc rocketing. REUTERS/Ruben Sprich (SWITZERLAND - Tags: BUSINESS POLITICS)

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi smiles during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 14, 2014. Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Iraq's new Vice President Iyad Allawi (R) shakes hands with Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Hassan Danaifar during a parliamentary session to vote on Iraq's new government at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad September 8, 2014. Iraq's parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise. Picture taken September 8, 2014. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS ELECTIONS) 

Iyad Allawi (L), Usama al-Nujaifi (2nd L), Iraq's supreme court judge Midhat al-Mahmoud (2nd R) and Nuri al-Maliki (R) stand together during a swearing-in at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad September 8, 2014. Iraq's parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise. The parliament approved for the ceremonial posts of vice presidents the last prime minister al-Maliki; former premier Allawi; and the last parliament speaker al-Nujaifi. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi (L), Usama al-Nujaifi (2nd L), Iraq's supreme court judge Midhat al-Mahmoud (2nd R) and Nuri al-Maliki (R) stand together during a swearing-in at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad September 8, 2014. Iraq's parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise. The parliament approved for the ceremonial posts of vice presidents the last prime minister al-Maliki; former premier Allawi; and the last parliament speaker al-Nujaifi. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi (L), Usama al-Nujaifi (2nd L), Iraq's supreme court judge Midhat al-Mahmoud (2nd R) and Nuri al-Maliki (R) stand together during a swearing-in at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad September 8, 2014. Iraq's parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise. The parliament approved for the ceremonial posts of vice presidents the last prime minister al-Maliki; former premier Allawi; and the last parliament speaker al-Nujaifi. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: ELECTIONS POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi (L), Usama al-Nujaifi (2nd L), Iraq's supreme court judge Midhat al-Mahmoud (2nd R) and Nuri al-Maliki (R) stand together during a swearing-in at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad September 8, 2014. Iraq's parliament approved a new government headed by Haider al-Abadi as prime minister on Monday night, in a bid to rescue Iraq from collapse, with sectarianism and Arab-Kurdish tensions on the rise. The parliament approved for the ceremonial posts of vice presidents the last prime minister al-Maliki; former premier Allawi; and the last parliament speaker al-Nujaifi. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad (IRAQ - Tags - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iraqi Sunni parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi (L),the president of the autonomous Kurdistan region Massud Barzani (2nd L),Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (C),Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (2nd R),and former Premier Iyad Allawi (R), convene during a meeting of Iraqi leaders in Arbil, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Baghdad April 28, 2012. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Head of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc Iyad Allawi sits during a meeting for the main Sunni-backed bloc in Baghdad January 29, 2012. Iraq's Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc will end a boycott of the parliament, a spokeswoman said on Sunday, easing the worst political crisis in Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's power-sharing government in a year. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Head of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc Iyad Allawi (R) and Iraqiya Sunni speaker of parliament Osama al-Nujaifi hold a news conference for the seniors of Iraqiya bloc in Baghdad January 18, 2012. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Head of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya political bloc Iyad Allawi speaks during a news conference for the seniors of Iraqiya bloc in Baghdad January 18, 2012. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Pro-government supporters use their shoes to beat a picture of Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, with Firas al-Jubouri, during a demonstration at Tahrir square in central Baghdad June 10, 2011. The several thousand who turned out in a central Baghdad square on Friday included a large number of pro-government supporters who outnumbered anti-government protesters. Several protesters were beaten by the pro-government supporters, witnesses said. Small anti-government protests were also reported in other Iraqi cities. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags : - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Iyad Allawi (L) , a former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a joint news conference with anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf March 3, 2011. Sadr on Thursday urged Iraqis to protest against any possible U.S. military intervention in Libya, saying the United States installed Gaddafi and now wants to remove him. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (R) stands with Iyad Allawi (L) , a former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, before a news conference in Najaf March 3, 2011. Sadr on Thursday urged Iraqis to protest against any possible U.S. military intervention in Libya, saying the United States installed Gaddafi and now wants to remove him. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Anti-U.S. Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (R) meets with Iyad Allawi, a former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, in Najaf March 03, 2011. Sadr on Thursday urged Iraqis to protest against any possible U.S. military intervention in Libya, saying the United States installed Gaddafi and now wants to remove him. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) meets with Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, during his visit to Baghdad January 13, 2011. Biden flew into Iraq on Thursday for his first visit since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was reappointed for a second term and cost-cutting Republicans took over the House of Representatives. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) shakes hands with Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, during a meeting in Baghdad January 13, 2011. Biden flew into Iraq on Thursday for his first visit since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was reappointed for a second term and cost-cutting Republicans took over the House of Representatives. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks at the house of parliament in Baghdad December 21, 2010. Iraq's parliament approved Nuri al-Maliki as prime minister on Tuesday, giving the Shi'ite leader a second term as Iraq tries to cement fragile security gains and build its fledging democracy. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (Iraq - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi (R), Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition walks with the member of parliament and the Head of Current National Reform Ibrahim al-Jaafari at the house of parliament in Baghdad December 21, 2010. Iraq's parliament approved Nuri al-Maliki as prime minister on Tuesday, giving the Shi'ite leader a second term as Iraq tries to cement fragile security gains and build its fledging democracy. REUTERS/Saad Shalash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, December 19, 2010. Allawi, whose cross-sectarian coalition won the most seats in Iraq's March election, said on Sunday he will join Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government. Allawi said he would accept a job as head of a national strategic policy council that was offered in a power-sharing deal involving Maliki and Kurdish president Masoud Barzani on November 10. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT PROFILE) 

Iyad Allawi, Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, laughs during a news conference in Baghdad, December 19, 2010. Allawi, whose cross-sectarian coalition won the most seats in Iraq's March election, said on Sunday he will join Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government. Allawi said he would accept a job as head of a national strategic policy council that was offered in a power-sharing deal involving Maliki and Kurdish president Masoud Barzani on November 10. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS PROFILE HEADSHOT) 

Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a news conference in Baghdad December 17, 2010. REUTERS/Saad Shlash (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during the 13th Conference of Kurdistan Democratic Party in Arbil, 310 km (190 miles) north of Baghdad December 11, 2010. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iraqi political leaders and members of parliament including from (L-R) Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, Iraqi parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, Iraq's President Jalal Talabani, Kurdish President Masoud Barzani, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Malik and Iraq's Kurdistan region Prime Minister Barham Salih are attend the 13th Conference of Kurdistan Democratic Party in Arbil, 310 km (190 miles) north of Baghdad December 11, 2010. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Jordan's King Abdullah (R) speaks with Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi at the Royal Palace in Amman October 27, 2010. REUTERS/Yousef Allan (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a joint news conference with Speaker of Parliament Ayad al-Samarai (not in picture), in Baghdad October 7, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, speaks during a joint news conference with Speaker of Parliament Ayad al-Samarai (not in picture), in Baghdad October 7, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi, former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, holds a joint conference with Speaker of Parliament Ayad al-Samarai (R) in Baghdad October 7, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iyad Allawi (R), former prime minister and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, meets with Speaker of Parliament Ayad al-Samarai in Baghdad October 7, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT) 

Former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi attends a meeting with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak at the presidential palace in Cairo October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: POLITICS) 

Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak (R) speaks with former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi during their meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo October 5, 2010. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh (EGYPT - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS) 

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi speaks during a news conference after his meeting with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus September 29, 2010. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (R), Iraqi politicians Saleh al-Mutlaq (C) and Hasan al-Alawi (L) attend a news conference after their meeting with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus September 29, 2010. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Iraq's former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi speaks during a news conference after his meeting with Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus September 29, 2010. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (R) speaks during a news conference after his meeting with Iraqis politicians and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus September 29, 2010. Iraqi politician Saleh al-Mutlaq is pictured at left. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Former Iraqi premier and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 5, 2010. Allawi hopes coalition talks will have progressed by end-October and said forming a government was key to security in Iraq after the United States formally ended combat operations. Picture taken September 5, 2010. To match interview IRAQ-POLITICS/ALLAWI/ REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS) 

Former Iraqi premier and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 5, 2010. Allawi hopes coalition talks will have progressed by end-October and said forming a government was key to security in Iraq after the United States formally ended combat operations. Picture taken September 5, 2010. To match interview IRAQ-POLITICS/ALLAWI/ REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS) 

Former Iraqi premier and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 5, 2010. Allawi hopes coalition talks will have progressed by end-October and said forming a government was key to security in Iraq after the United States formally ended combat operations. Picture taken September 5, 2010. To match interview IRAQ-POLITICS/ALLAWI/ REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS) 

Former Iraqi premier and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi speaks during an interview with Reuters in Baghdad September 5, 2010. Allawi hopes coalition talks will have progressed by end-October and said forming a government was key to security in Iraq after the United States formally ended combat operations. Picture taken September 5, 2010. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS) 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) meets with Iraq's former Prime Minister and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi (R) in Baghdad, August 31, 2010. Biden arrived in Iraq on Monday as U.S. troops prepared to end combat operations on Tuesday. Biden held talks with Iraqi leaders during a period of political deadlock, almost six months after an inconclusive election in March, over forming the country's next government. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT) 

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) meets with Iraq's former prime minister and head of the Iraqiya coalition Iyad Allawi (R) in Baghdad, August 31, 2010. Biden arrived in Iraq on Monday as U.S. troops prepared to end combat operations on Tuesday. Biden was expected to hold talks with Iraqi leaders during a period of political deadlock, almost six months after an inconclusive election in March, over forming the country's next government. REUTERS/Thaier al-Sudani (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Former Iraqi premier and head of the secular Iraqiya coalition, Iyad Allawi laughs during a joint news conference with Qusay al Suhail, a top figure of the al-Sadr block in Baghdad, August 17, 2010. Allawi said on Tuesday his Sunni-backed Iraqiya alliance would intensify talks with an anti-American Shi'ite movement to try to break a political stalemate. Iraq has been in a political deadlock since a March 7 election which produced no outright winner, raising tensions ahead of an end to U.S. combat operations this month and fuelling concerns of a return to widespread violence. REUTERS/Mohammed Ameen (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS HEADSHOT)