Ahead of all-comers on Iraq’s tortuous progress towards a new government, months after elections.

Reuters reported several hours ahead of all media on November 10 that a final agreement had been reached on forming a new coalition government in Iraq. It was the culmination of a series of great beats since September as rival Sunni and Shia parties edged towards a negotiated deal on who should govern. A March 7 election had been inconclusive and the long delay in forming a government left Iraq vulnerable to sectarian violence and unable to capitalise on vast amounts of promised investment needed to realise the vast potential of its oil and gas reserves. From Sept to Nov Reuters was first on numerous occasions as outgoing premier Nuri al-Maliki secured a deal to retain his post, Kurdish objections fell away and eventually the Iraqiya alliance of former prime minister Iyad Allawi agreed to join the ruling coalition.