Iraq party pulls out of Shia bloc

By Jim Muir
BBC News, Baghdad

Fadhila is one of the parties supporting Mr Maliki's government

One of the factions of the powerful Shia alliance which dominates Iraq's parliament has said it is pulling out of the government-supporting coalition.

The Fadhila Party, which has 15 parliamentary seats, said it wanted to help reconstruct political life on a non-sectarian basis.

It is the first time since elections 15 months ago that a group in the Shia coalition has pulled out.

The decision seems to have come as something of a shock.

The spokesman for the Fadhila Party said it wanted to see the disbanding of political blocs assembled on a sectarian basis.

He said the party would continue to operate independently within parliament, though its hope was to join a bloc built up on national criteria.

There is speculation that it could team up with the secular alliance led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and with some of the Sunni factions.

A prominent member of parliament from one of the big groups remaining in the Shia coalition accused the Fadhila Party of breaking the promises it made at the time the coalition was formed.

He said its intentions were bad and believed that in the next few days it would start forming alliances aimed eventually at bringing down the government of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

No portfolio

Al-Fadhila has never had a portfolio in that government.

Powerful in the oil-rich south of the country, it wanted the oil ministry, but did not get it.

The prime minister is currently preparing to announce a cabinet reshuffle.

One suggestion from al-Fadhila's critics is that it is pulling out of the alliance now, out of pique, because it has been excluded once again from the new government formation.