Region | Iraq
Iraq's Al Maliki joins with Sunnis in election bid
Iraq's prime minister is reaching across sectarian lines for January's parliamentary election with alliances that include Sunni groups.
- AP
- Published: 14:02 October 1, 2009
- Image Credit: Reuters
- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki announces his new coalition of 'State of Law' in Baghdad on Thursday. Al Maliki announced on Thursday a new coalition that will run against former Shiite allies in January's national elections, raising the prospect of intra-sectarian strife.
Baghdad: Iraq's prime minister is reaching across sectarian lines for January's parliamentary election with alliances that include Sunni groups.
Nouri Al Maliki's Shiite-led bloc is seeking a broad coalition with Sunni factions to turn back a challenge from Shiite religious parties. Earlier this year, voters strongly rejected Shiite religious parties in provincial balloting.
Al Maliki is hoping to again ride the trend toward secular-oriented politics.
His election alliance announced Thursday includes Sunni political groups from around Iraq, including several that joined the uprising against insurgents.
The prime minister's pro-Western government has come under pressure to maintain security gains as US forces withdraw.
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