Call to expel the Islamic Party from Iraqiya bloc – White Bloc

WASSIT / IraqiNews.com: White Bloc in Wassit called on al-Iraqiya Bloc‘s leader Iyad Alawi to expel the Islamic Party, headed by Tariq al-Hashimi, from his ranks. Ghadhnfar al-Bateekh told IraqiNews.com that “the people regarded Iraqiya bloc as the national political project, but the inclusion of the Islamic party in its ranks was a big mistake”. “If al-Iraqiya Bloc continues this trend, it will lose the Iraqi public in middle and southern parts of the country”, he confirmed. But added that the White Bloc will fill the gap by collecting other forces in the region and make alliances with the State of Law, Ahrar, Muwatin and the Kurdish blocs. He disclosed that the bloc is to open offices in some Iraqi province as an independent bloc, after having the decision of the Federal Court in this regard. The block in Wassit announced on 22 December 2011 its withdrawal from Iraqiya bloc. Iraq is moving into a severe political crisis after accusing vice-president Tariq al-Hashimi with terrorism and issuing an arrest warrant against him, in addition to Premier Nouri al-Maliki’s decision to demote his deputy Saleh al-Mutlaq, who are both leading members in the Iraqiya bloc. Added to all that previous differences on security posts, internal differences between Iraqiya and State of Law blocs for Erbil agreements and charges that Premier Maliki is governing the country unilaterally. Kut, the center of Wassit province, lies 180 km southeast of the capital, Baghdad. 122