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Third coalition arises in Iraq to vie for Sunni leadership

Former Iraqi Vice President Osama al-Nujaifi has formed a new Sunni coalition in Iraq, but the "alliance" seems to indicate further division in Sunni political ranks.
Osama al-Nujaifi (R), speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, and Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Rose Nuri Shaways sit as they attend a session at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad July 1, 2014. Sunnis and Kurds abandoned the first meeting of Iraq's new parliament on Tuesday after Shi'ites failed to name a prime minister to replace al-Maliki, wrecking hopes that a unity government would be swiftly built to save Iraq from collapse. Parliament is not likely to meet again for at least a week, leavi

Sunni political blocs in Iraq are launching early preparations for April provincial council elections by forming new parties and alliances — but also pointing fingers at each other. This shows the depth of political conflict in the areas liberated from the Islamic State (IS).

More than a year after legislative elections, Sunni parties have failed to form a united bloc in the Iraqi parliament, though their political leaders boasted about working within the large National Axis Alliance. This alliance, however, became divided between the main Shiite blocs, Hadi al-Amiri’s Construction Bloc and the Sairoon Coalition led by Muqtada al-Sadr.

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