Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s chances of keeping his job suffered a setback Sunday when a coalition of Shiite parties that appeared to represent his best hope of staying in office broke off talks with his slate…

Officials from the Iraqi National Alliance, the coalition of religious Shiite parties that suspended talks with Maliki, said they wanted to pick someone else for the top job…

Aaraji said the religious parties would open a new round of talks with their counterparts in Allawi’s bloc and a Kurdish coalition in coming days. He said they would resume talks with Maliki’s slate only if he agrees to nominate a substitute candidate for prime minister.