Iraqi Cleric Sadr’s Bloc Denies Contact with US

Rasa – A top member of Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s bloc quashed media rumors that his Sairoon alliance has had contacts with the United States after victory in the recent parliamentary election.

News ID: 437854

Date: 23 May 2018 - 21:54

RNA - In an interview with al-Sumaria news, Dhiaa al-Asadi, head of the political bureau of Sadr’s bloc, denied reports of contact between his coalition members and Washington.

It came after Reuters quoted Asadi as saying that the US has contacted members of Sadr’s political bloc and that intermediaries had been used to open channels with members of the Sairoon alliance.

“Some media outlets have quoted me as saying that Washington and members of Sairoon list are in contact. Such reports are totally baseless,” Asadi said.

Dismissing any channel between the Sadr party and Americans, he noted that Sairoon has rejected negotiations or cooperation with the US even through intermediaries.

According to Tasnim News Agancy, Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon coalition took 54 out of 328 seats in the May 12 parliamentary election in Iraq.

With no bloc winning the 165 seats required for an outright majority, negotiations to form a coalition government in Iraq are expected to drag on for weeks.

847/940