Monday, March 12, 2007
Al-Fadilah party to create new bloc from UIC members
Politics
(Al Arabiya) An Iraqi MP from the Shi'i Al-Fadilah [Virtue] Party, which recently pulled out of the largest parliamentary bloc United Iraqi Coalition (UIC), has told Al-Arabiya TV his party may want to set up a new bloc by poaching UIC member parties. He further suggested that his party was "non-sectarian", was seeking "to diversify" and would approve of mixed Shi'i-Sunni alliances.
In a broadcast on 9 March, Al-Juburi said "If we think of establishing such a bloc, we will start by contacting parties within the UIC and this is why I call on my brothers in the UIC to understand our position." Al-Juburi said his party aimed "to diversify the choices and make parliamentary life more dynamic". He added: "We believe that diversifying the Shi'i, Sunni, and Kurdish options is a healthy operation and serves the national project. Alliances might take place at times between the Shi'is and the Sunnis."
Concerning reports that the Al-Fadilah party was seeking to join Iyad Allawi's newly formed Iraqi National Front, Al-Juburi said: "No agreement, dialogue, or discussions were held on the formation of such a bloc." He added that Al-Fadilah would continue to back Al-Maliki's government.
Labels: Dr Nadim al-Juburi, Fadhela party, United Iraqi Alliance
