| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq |
| Iraq Shiite alliance urges Sadr to review walkout |
| 2007-09-18 |
| The Shiite bloc that leads the Iraqi government urged the political movement of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Monday to reverse its decision to quit the bloc, saying national unity is at stake. “We call on our brothers in the Sadr movement to review their decision,” the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) said in statement. “We underline the need for unity between Iraq’s political forces whether inside or outside the coalition,” it said. Liwa Sumaysim, head of the political committee of the Sadr group, announced on Saturday that the movement was withdrawing its 32 MPs from the UIA, leaving Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s coalition in control of only about half the seats in parliament. The UIA said it had been “astonished by the withdrawal” as it came “contrary to dialogue and discussions with them inside the alliance.” The Shiite alliance, it added, had formed a committee to negotiate with the Sadr movement to try to persuade it to reverse its decision. |
| Posted by:Fred |