Iraq: Iraq's outgoing prime minister, Ayad Allawi, agreed yesterday to bring his secular parliamentary bloc into the new government, easing concerns that Shia conservatives would dominate the administration.
Mr Allawi had previously indicated that his bloc, which holds 40 out of 275 seats, would go into opposition against a ruling coalition headed by a cleric-backed Shia alliance.
His spokesman told news agencies yesterday, however, that, in exchange for four cabinet posts, the bloc would join what will now be billed as a national unity government. "Ayad Allawi decided his bloc will take part in the new government because he believes in making the political and democratic process in Iraq successful."
The news will be welcomed by the Kurdish alliance, which forms the second largest bloc and is keen to dilute what it fears will be an Islamist agenda of the new prime minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. The US is also likely to be relieved.
A militant group said it had kidnapped the deputy of the Pakistani charge d'affaires in Baghdad, who disappeared on Saturday. - (Guardian Service)