Iraqis decry soaring deadlock costs

Iraqis frustrated by party leaders' failure to form a unity government after eight months of political deadlock, have staged a massive rally in Baghdad, calling on officials to speed up the process of reaching a power-sharing deal.

Much of the public anger stems from soaring economic costs the country accrued since March's general elections failed to yield a leadership because not a single bloc won enough seats.

Many complain that the impasse has caused a standstill in the country, freezing job growth and public services. They also say officials' salaries, which are many times more than the average Iraqi's pay, are a major waste of money.

Rawya Rageh reports from Baghdad.

[November 9, 2010]