Iraq: Al-Sadr allies with Fatah to form majority group

By Haydar Hadi

BAGDAD, Iraq

Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced on Tuesday that he has forged an alliance with the Fatah Coalition to form the biggest group in Iraq's parliament.

In a joint news briefing with his new ally, Sadr also affirmed the continuation of his alliance with Iyad Allawi's al-Wataniye coalition.

In last month’s Iraqi parliamentary election, Sadr's Sairoon coalition won 54 parliamentary seats, according to official results.

Sairoon was followed by a Hashd al-Shaabi-linked coalition (47 seats) and Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's Victory Bloc (42 seats).

Al-Wataniye also won 21 seats.