BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's Coordination Framework (CF), an umbrella alliance of Shiite parties and the largest parliamentary bloc, announced Saturday the official nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for a third term to head the country's next government.

According to a CF statement, the decision was approved by a majority vote at a meeting in Baghdad, citing al-Maliki's political and administrative experience in governing the state.

The CF emphasized its commitment to the constitutional process and keenness to work with all national forces to form a capable government that addresses challenges, delivers services, and safeguards Iraq's security and unity.

The bloc further called on the Iraqi Parliament to convene a session to elect the country's president within the constitutional deadlines, a mandatory step before the formal appointment of the prime minister-designate.

Al-Maliki, born in 1950, is the leader of the State of Law Coalition and previously served two terms as Iraq's Prime Minister from 2006 to 2014.

Under Iraq's Constitution, parliament must elect a president within 30 days. The president then has 15 days to task the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a cabinet, which must seek a parliamentary vote of confidence within the following 30 days.

Under Iraq's ethno-sectarian power-sharing system established after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, the presidency is reserved for a Kurd, the parliamentary speaker's post for a Sunni Muslim, and the prime minister's office for a Shiite Muslim. ■