Iraq’s Shiite parties throw aside differences to unite in possible ruling coalition

Iraq’s Shiite parties unite in possible new govt

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s two largest Shiite electoral blocs announced Tuesday they have formed an alliance that gives them a strong chance of setting up the next government, though they have yet to work out the contentious question of who would become prime minister.

The alliance of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition and the conservative Shiite Iraqi National Alliance leaves them just four parliamentary seats shy of a ruling majority.

The union could cement Shiite domination of Iraq’s government and further alienate minority Sunnis who lost their positions of privilege with the fall of their patron Saddam Hussein in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Such an outcome threatens to stir further violence at an especially fragile moment in Iraq as American troops prepare to withdrawal.

The coalition deal was announced at a news conference, but the question of who would be prime minister could threaten to derail their plans to form a government.

“After continuous talks between the Iraqi National Alliance and the State of Law coalition, based on joint national principles, aimed at achieving the legitimate aspirations, and despite the challenges and the risks, both coalitions have agreed to announce the formation of a single parliamentary bloc by allying,” said Abdul-Razaq al-Kazemi, of the Iraqi National Alliance.

He was flanked by officials from State of Law and the movement of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose followers make up the strongest group in the Iraqi National Alliance.

Iraq’s close fought election on March 7 produced no clear winner, forcing extensive negotiations between the political factions.

Previous talks to create a pan-Shiite alliance failed because followers of al-Sadr have long been antagonistic to al-Maliki and are widely believed to object to any deal in which he keeps the prime minister’s chair.

Al-Maliki’s State of Law won 89 seats in the new parliament, and the Iraqi National Alliance won 70 seats. Their total 159 seats leaves them just four seats away from the simple majority required to govern.