Sadr Proscribes Alliance with Maliki
The Iraqi Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. File photo.
During a televised interview, along others Sadr asked Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi, Iraqi Vice President Ayad al-Allawi and Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jobouri not to form alliance with Iraqi VP Maliki.
“The Shi’ite authorities who ran Iraq in the past, were defeated and … if Iraqi Shi’ites regain power, they will be defeated,” Sadr said in reference to attempts by some Shi’ite parties to form a majority block.
Sadr indicated he does not mean that he supports Sunnis to rule Iraq, but it’s just that “it’s very difficult to find a Shi’ite figure to govern Iraq successfully.”
He accused Maliki of selling one third of Iraq’s soil to the Islamic State (IS) and advised Iraqi politicians “Let’s at least keep the remaining two parts.”
The leader reiterated his opposition against Maliki to take over PM position for the third run and refused to make any compromise over his stance.
“I will not agree to that at all and we will not examine someone who has been examined before…. Maliki is the foremost responsible person for wasting the huge budget [of the country] and the occupation of Nineveh, Anabr and the rest of the area by IS.”
However, he thought Abadi can continue into the second term “if he continues with his reforms.”
Regarding his plans, Sadr said currently he has dedicated himself to settling the issues of Iraq but plans to become Iraq’s senior Shi’ite clergy after stability prevails in the country.