Reykjavik  - Icelandic member of parliament Johanna Sigurdadottir said she was close to forming an interim government on Saturday, saying that "only a few fine touches" were still needed.

The new coalition of Sigurdadottir's Social Democrats with the Left-Green Movement is to take the place of the conservative government led by Geir Haarde.

The Social Democrats were given the task of forming an interim government after mass protests forced the collapse of the government led by the conservative Independence Party and including the Social Democrats.

Should she be successful, Sigurdadottir will be prime minister in a government that will last at most through spring, with April 25 unofficially tipped as the date for new elections.

In addition to agreeing on a date for the elections, the interim government would need to set out a course for Iceland's stance to the European Union.

The Social Democrats have supported EU membership while the Left- Greens have opposed such a move. (dpa)