Pat Dollard

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BAGHDAD (AP) – Nearly five months after disputed parliamentary elections, leading Iraqi politicians say they have all but abandoned hope of resolving the impasse before fall.

The protracted stalemate is a scenario U.S. officials have long dreaded. By the end of August, the United States will declare the end of its combat mission in Iraq – and reduce troop strength to 50,000 – amid a deepening political crisis.

Former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, one of the contenders for his former post, said in an interview Saturday that months of negotiations among blocs have not led to a resolution on who is entitled to the country’s premiership or how other powerful jobs will be allocated. He said a breakthrough is unlikely before September or October because little official business is conducted during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which begins in mid-August.

The looming withdrawal of U.S. troops and rising anger among Iraqis over continuing attacks, joblessness and deteriorating government services have made power-sharing negotiations increasingly contentious.

“The process so far is inadequate, it is not balanced and it is rigged with problems,” Allawi said. “A weakened process could easily collapse at the end of the day.”

Scores of Iraqis were killed in July in near-daily attacks across the country.

Allawi’s Sunni-backed coalition, Iraqiya, won 91 seats in the new parliament. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bloc came in a close second, winning 89.

Appointing a new prime minister requires at least 163 votes.