Allawi urges Syria to curb Iranian influence in Iraq (Roundup)

Sep 29, 2010, 16:40 GMT

Baghdad/Damascus - Iraqi politician Iyad Allawi asked Syria on Wednesday to use its diplomatic ties with Iran to prevent the government there from meddling in domestic Iraqi politics.

His trip to Syria comes amid reports of a shift among Iraqi Shiite parties that could tip the scale in favour of current Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, Allawi's political rival for the premiership following still-contested elections seven months ago.

Allawi - himself a Shiite, but head of a movement that draws in members from several of Iraq's major religious groups - told a press conference in Damascus after he met with Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, that 'Iran is interfering in Iraqi affairs, and we totally reject this.'

'We have asked the international community to stand at equal distance from all Iraqi political parties and not interfere in internal Iraqi affairs,' he added.

Allawi's meeting in Syria comes as a coalition of Iraqi Shiites, known as the National Alliance, are due to hold a third day of talks Wednesday evening after they failed to meet their own deadline to nominate a candidate for the position of prime minister.

The heightened political maneuvering by Iraqi politicians in recent days follows months of political impasse that has left the country without a government since the March 7 elections.

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who make up part of the National Alliance, had opposed al-Maliki for a second-term nomination following his attacks on their strongholds in 2008, which killed and injured hundreds of Sadrist supporters.

But Iraqi politicians told the German Press Agency dpa that the Sadrist bloc would shift its position and endorse al-Maliki for a second term, following pressure from neighbouring Iran.

'The latest signs from the Sadrist bloc seemed to be in favour of al-Maliki,' Ezat al-Shabandar, a member of parliament with al- Maliki's State of Law coalition, told dpa. However, that would still leave the National Alliance four votes short of the total necessary to name a prime minister.

Furthermore, al-Shabandar said he did not expect the National Alliance would reach consensus to announce their support for a candidate in Wednesday's meeting.

In March, Allawi's Iraqiya List was the biggest vote-getter, with 91 seats to 89 for al-Maliki's State of Law coalition, leaving both well short of a parliamentary majority.

Allawi has said he does not recognize the National Alliance, which came together after elections took place, and described it as a desperate attempt to 'consolidate political sectarianism.'

Allawi's visit to Syria is seen as a scramble to reaffirm regional support from Arab leaders for his party.

Shortly before Allawi departed for Syria, US Vice-President Joe Biden called to discuss the status of negotiations on a new government with Allawi.

During their phone conversation, Biden said the United States was not backing a specific candidate, but supported an inclusive government that reflected the results of the election, according to a White House statement.

US ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in the political gridlock, which is seen by the United States as a security risk.

Jeffrey said that Washington continues to support the Iraqis and their political process to ensure security, stability, political harmony and economic prosperity in Iraq.

Meanwhile, reports surfaced that Shiite politician Ammar al-Hakim may break off from the National Alliance and throw his support behind Iraqi Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

Abdul-Mahdi is a member of al-Hakim's Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council party, which, so far, remains in the National Alliance.

For his part, Allawi has already expressed his support of Abdul- Mahdi for the post of prime minister so long as Allawi is given a leading role in the new government.

Political tensions have followed the elections for the 325 member parliament, with the lawmakers' only session in June lasting 20 minutes.