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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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7

Iraqi Shiites Ditch Maliki in New Coalition

Group favors a government more closely allied with Iran

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(Newser) – Iraq’s major Shiite parties have formed a new coalition without Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki or his Dawa Party, they announced today. That means that unless Maliki finds new allies, he will likely lose his job following the January elections. If the new coalition wins a majority, he’ll be replaced by a leader with much closer ties to Iran, the Washington Post reports.

The coalition will be led by the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, and includes the anti-American Sadr Movement. Both parties are closely linked with Iran, and their leaders currently live there. Maliki’s popularity has waned recently as violence has surged following the withdrawal of US troops from Iraqi cities. Last week’s coordinated bombing that killed more than 100 in Baghdad was a particularly harsh blow.

Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is followed by an advisor as he leaves his hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 2, 2009.
Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is followed by an advisor as he leaves his hotel in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 2, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
In this June 27, 2009 file photo, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seen at a ceremony marking the 2003 death of Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim in Baghdad, Iraq.
In this June 27, 2009 file photo, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is seen at a ceremony marking the 2003 death of Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim in Baghdad, Iraq.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
In this July 5, 2008 file photo, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq's Prime Minister, arrives at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, in Baghdad.
In this July 5, 2008 file photo, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq's Prime Minister, arrives at a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the assassination of Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, in Baghdad.   (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban, File)
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7 comments
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gabo
Aug 24, 09 10:10 AM CDT
Time for us to leave. Reply
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+3
2-bits
Aug 24, 09 10:12 AM CDT
Hey, it's a free country. Reply
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Doctor_Zaius
Aug 24, 09 10:24 AM CDT
Free to become Western Iran.
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+5
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2-bits
Aug 24, 09 10:28 AM CDT
Exactly. :)
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+2
stacysaw
Aug 24, 09 10:32 AM CDT
All for naught. Nice job, Bushie. No - nice job, Cheney. God love the troops that did everything they could to prevent this very thing or to pave the way for it not to need to happen. Reply
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+4

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