The Tide Keeps Flowing

This sounds promising:

BAGHDAD, April 20 -- Iraq's prime minister on Thursday relinquished his nomination to a new term after weeks of intense pressure, capping a day of surprises that left many politicians here hopeful that a months-long stalemate over formation of a new government would finally end.

In a letter and a national television address at 11 p.m. Thursday, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari said he would give up his hard-won nomination by the dominant coalition of Shiite parties, the United Iraqi Alliance, and allow its members to select another candidate if they chose.

It was a sudden turnabout for a man who the day before had said his withdrawal was "out of the question."

Read it here.

This could be a major breakthrough, comparable in political terms to the military action in Fallujah. Progress toward a functioning democracy is slow and hesitant, but it is there.

UPDATE:

NYT reports:

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 21 — Shiite leaders selected Jawad al-Maliki, a hard-line and outspoken Shiite leader, to replace the outgoing prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. The move could resolve a two-month-long political deadlock that has worsened Iraq's precarious security situation and contributed to an increase of sectarian killings across the nation.

Officials with rival political blocs said tonight that despite earlier misgivings about Mr. Maliki they intended to support him when the Iraqi Parliament convenes on Saturday afternoon.

Once the Parliament agrees on other leaders, Mr. Maliki will be asked to form a new government and cabinet. But there were conflicting reports about whether the major political groups had agreed on who would fill the senior posts that must be decided before a cabinet is formed, particularly speaker of the national assembly.

Read it here.

One more small step.