Iraq’s parliament on Tuesday postponed indefinitely what would have been only its second session since a March election, extending a political deadlock that has plagued the country.

“We are postponing the session until further notice because the political entities failed to reach any agreement,” Fouad Massum, who as the oldest member of parliament holds the post of caretaker speaker, told a news conference.

“We held a meeting this morning with the heads of the parliamentary blocs and we agreed to give more time to political entities to reach agreement regarding the selection of a speaker and his two deputies.”

He added: “The representatives of the political entities insisted on calling the current government a caretaker administration.”

Tuesday’s session was to have been only the second since the March 7 parliamentary election. The first, which took place on June 14, was adjourned after only 20 minutes.

The selection of a new speaker and president — ahead of the naming of a new premier — is likely to be part of a grand bargain between Iraq’s competing political blocs, further complicating the formation of a new government.

Iraq’s four main political groups, none of which has the 163 seats required for a parliamentary majority to form a government on its own, have been unable to hammer out a coalition deal since the nationwide vote.

The political vacuum has dogged Iraq a month before U.S. combat troops are due to leave the country.

U.S. and Iraqi officials have warned of the dangers of an upsurge in violence as negotiations on forming a coalition drag on, giving insurgent groups an opportunity to further destabilize the country.

“It is a disappointing decision,” said Salim al-Juburi, an MP with the Sunni Tawafuq party.

“Each day that passes means the suffering is increasing, the security situation is aggravating, and we are moving far from the interests of the people.”

Former premier Iyad Allawi’s Iraqiya bloc finished first in the election with 91 seats, followed closely by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s State of Law alliance with 89.

The Iraqi National Alliance, a group of Shi’a religious parties, finished third with 70 seats.