Iraq: Sunni-backed Bloc Boycotts Parliament

BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi lawmaker says a Sunni-backed political bloc has suspended its participation in parliament to protest the control of key posts by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Hamid al-Mutlaq, a Sunni lawmaker from the Iraqiya bloc, said Sunday the decision stemmed from the Shiite-dominated government’s failure to share more powers with the Sunni-backed bloc.

He said Iraqiya’s boycott is also a protest against what they say is the growing concentration of power in security affairs in the hands of the prime minister.

Al-Mutlaq warned of further measures such as withdrawing all the bloc’s ministers from the Cabinet if its demands are not met.

Iraqiya is headed by Ayad Allawi, a fierce rival of the prime minister.