Jawad al-Maliki, Iraq's prime minister-designate, said yesterday he hoped to form a government in two weeks, a move that would bring to a rapid close the political crisis that has paralysed government decision-making for almost five months.

It would also mark a swift return on the decision to elevate 55-year-old Mr Maliki, who until last weekend was better known by the outside world as a spokesman for the Daawa party of Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the man he replaced as prime minister.