New Shiite alliance against al-Maliki formed; At least 11 killed in bomb attacks in Kut; Abdul Aziz al-Hakim dies at a Tehran hospital
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    • The Iranian-backed Shiite parties that helped propel Nouri al-Maliki to power in 2006 stated that he will not be their candidate in the January elections. They instead formed a new alliance - the Iraqi National Alliance, which includes the largest Shiite party (the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council or SIIC) and al-Sadr’s bloc, both of which have close ties to Tehran.

    Reports noted that Mr. al-Maliki was faced with making a deal with minority Sunni parties to strengthen his position as his Dawa party was relatively small political base. Analysts noted that if the new alliance did well in the January 16 vote, Tehran could gain deeper influence in Iraq as US forces pull back, with a full American withdrawal planned by the end of 20111.

    At least 11 people were killed and more than 11 wounded in bomb attacks on two minibuses near the southern Iraqi town of Kut, a mainly Shia area 150 km south-east of Baghdad. The attack came days after a double truck bombing in Baghdad killed at least 95 people, the deadliest strike in Iraq in this year. There has been an escalation of attacks since US troops pulled out of urban areas at the end of June2.

    In other developments, Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq Chairman Abdul Aziz al-Hakim died of lung cancer at a Tehran hospital. al-Hakim had taken over the leadership of the Shiite organization in August 2003 after the assassination of his brother Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim in Najaf. Their father, Grand Ayatollah Mohsen al-Hakim, was a revered Shia spiritual leader between 1955 and 1970. ISCI is the largest Shia grouping in Iraq. It recently joined with the followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to form a new political alliance to contest the parliamentary elections scheduled for January 20103.

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