Iraqi PM Abadi, Cleric Sadr Announce Alliance of Their Political Parties

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have announced an alliance between the political parties.

“We announce a cross-sectarian, cross-ethnic alliance to speed up forming the next government and to agree on common points that guarantee the interests of the Iraqi people,” said Sadr during a news conference in Najaf on Saturday, according to Press TV.

Sadr further called for a wider alliance including all components of the country’s society to form an inclusive government.

 The alliance between Abadi’s Victory Alliance and Sadr’s Saeroon is the latest in a series of deals among Iraqi political leaders.

Abadi and Sadr both called on the leaders of other blocs to meet and “agree on the coming steps” in order to sooner form an inclusive Iraqi government.

“I affirm that this alliance is not in contrast to any other alliances either of the two lists have previously entered into with other blocs, rather, it flows in the same direction and same principles,” said Abadi.

H.M