"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Kurdish leaders converged on Baghdad for talks Monday with majority Shiites as both sides pressed to secure a deal to form a coalition government before the newly elected parliament meets for the first time this week.

Shiites and Kurds have been haggling over the makeup of the government since a new National Assembly was elected Jan. 30. The parliament meets Wednesday.

The political deal calls for Jalal Talabani, a Kurdish leader, to be named president. Conservative Islamic Dawa Party leader Ibrahim al-Jaafari of the Shiite majority United Iraqi Alliance coalition would become prime minister.

"We're not interested in the government posts, we're more interested in Kurdistan and Iraq's interests," Talabani said in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad.

"We have made good progress. We have a common understanding with the United Iraqi Alliance that we should establish an Iraqi state based on the principles of federalism and respecting human and women's rights.""
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Thanks to boyintheworld for the tip, It looks like the situation on the ground is fluid and changing with every moment. But This latest report does seem to point in right direction. cross your fingers XX