Iraqi parties form new coalition

October 31, 2009

Two leading Iraqi secular political blocs have joined forces to run in January's general elections.

The mainly Shia National Accord Movement and the Sunni National Dialogue Front announced in a statement on Saturday that they will now form the new Iraqi National Movement.

The new group said that its aim is to create a political environment that attempts to end sectarianism, promote better state institutions and stop neighboring countries' influence in Iraq - especially that of Iran.

They also said that the objective of the new coalition is to build the armed forces as part of a framework to impose the law.

Iyad Allawi, the former Iraqi prime minister, is the secretary general of the National Accord Movement.

Challenging al-Maliki

Jasim Azawi, who presents Al Jazeera's 'Inside Iraq' program, said: "This is significant but it is not major news.

"Because initially the alliance that was supposed to have been launched several weeks back was supposed to have included a few other political parties.

"This is a question of a little bit too late, and I wonder whether they will be able to cut the momentum of the prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who did very well in provincial elections earlier this year. This is meant to challenge him."

Awazi said that the coalition was appealing to Iraqi nationalism.

"They are trying to appeal to the liberals and the seculars, and more importantly the unrepresented Iraqi Ba'athists."

Iraq is scheduled to hold parliamentary elections on January 16, but there is growing fear that the vote could be delayed due to legislators' inability to pass a revised election law.

Source: Uruknet.
Link: http://www.uruknet.de/?s1=1&p=59595&s2=01.