Edited out 90% old news....
BAGHDAD (AFP) - Three Sunni Arab parties formed an alliance to run in Iraq's December elections after a new constitution was adopted for the violence-wracked nation despite strong Sunni opposition. The deal seems to have paid off when three Sunni Arab parties announced an alliance for the December round of voting, after the landmark January elections were largely boycotted by the minority community. The Conference of the People of Iraq, the Iraqi Islamic Party, and the Iraqi National Dialogue "agreed to run on one list under the name Iraqi Concord Front," a joint statement said. The Islamic Party, the Iraqi version of the Muslim Brotherhood, boycotted the January elections but called on voters to approve the constitution. Both the National Dialogue and the Conference of the People both opposed ratifying the constitution.
In a surprise move, radical Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr said he would present a common list of candidates with Sunni Arabs from the volatile Al-Anbar province. Sadr vehemently opposes the US-led occupation of Iraq, aligning him with Sunni Arabs who are believed to form the backbone of the insurgency.| Beating their swords into campaign posters, heh. |
|
