BAGHDAD, June 12 (KUNA) -- Saeroon list leader Moqtada Al-Sadr and Al-Fatih list's head Hadi Al-Amiri, who won first and second places respectively in Iraq's May parliamentary election, announced at City of Najaf on Tuesday an alliance between their political blocs.
The announcement came at a joint press conference by the two leaders in Najaf city and covered by state television.
Al-Sadr added the two parties have now formed the biggest political bloc in the upcoming Iraqi parliament.
The two Shi'ite figures said they would keep the door open for other winning blocs to join them in forming a new government.
"Our meeting was a very positive one, we met to end the suffering of this nation and of the people. Our new alliance is a nationalist one," Al-Sadr said.
Al-Sadr added, a third political bloc, which was announced in recent days, will remain intact. The bloc includes, Saeroon, Al-Hikmah led by Ammar Al-Hakim, and Al-Watani which is led by Ayyad Alawi.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi said he opposed any repeat of the May 12 parliamentary election, and warned that anyone who tried to sabotage the political process would be punished, after allegations of electoral fraud raised tensions.
Saeroon won the parliamentary election with 54 seats, and Al-Fatih won 47 seats, according to the digital recount, which was dismissed later and a hand recount was adopted.
Observers believe the formation of the biggest bloc will permanently abolish any chances for former prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki to form any powerful parliamentary bloc in the future.
Al-Nasr list, led by Al-Abadi, remains undecided and still not clear if they will join the new alliance or not. (end) ahh.mb