BREAKING NEWS

Iraq election rivals meet in political ice breaker

BAGHDAD — The leaders of two rival political alliances battling to run Iraq's new government took a step toward ending their power dispute Saturday, as the Sunni-backed coalition that won March elections now faces being sidelined in parliament.
The 90-minute meeting between Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and former Premier Ayad Allawi was their first since the March 7 vote, and was described by aides as more of an icebreaker than the start of serious negotiations.