IRAQ: SADR SEEKS ANTI-US POLITICAL BLOC

Sadr seeks anti-US bloc in parliament

BAGHDAD: Radical cleric Moqtada Al Sadr is building an anti-US parliamentary alliance to demand the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

The 30-strong Sadrist bloc has suspended its support of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki's ruling coalition and withdrawn six ministers from cabinet in protest at the premier's meeting with US President George W Bush.

Maliki yesterday urged the group to end their boycott.

"I wish they would revise their decision as it is not a positive milestone in the political process," Maliki said.

Earlier, Salih Al Agaili, a member of Sadr's parliamentary group, said the bloc now hoped to persuade more MPs to follow their suspension, adding that some have "started contacting us to take a similar position. We are holding talks with them."

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