Date: Sep 19, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Iraq Shiite paramilitary leader withdraws candidacy for PM Reuters IRBIL, Iraq: Shiite militia leader Hadi al-Amiri, one of the most powerful figures in Iraq, withdrew his candidacy for prime minister Tuesday, putting the country one step closer to forming a government after months of political stagnation. Amiri heads the Fatah Alliance, an electoral bloc that came in second in May’s inconclusive national elections. His coalition has been vying to build the largest bloc that would form the government, with him as prime minister. “I would like to announce to the dear Iraqi people the withdrawal of my candidacy for prime minister, to open the way for serious dialogue to elect a prime minister and his government according to the vision of the supreme religious authority,” he said in a news conference. Amiri’s Fatah alliance was composed of political groups tied to Iran-backed Shiite militias that helped government forces dislodge Daesh (ISIS) militants from the third of Iraq they seized four years ago. His Badr Organization controls the Interior Ministry. Amiri’s alliance has been in advanced talks with Shiite religious scholar Moqtada al-Sadr to form a new alliance in recent days. Sadr, whose Sairoon bloc scored a stunning victory in the May 12 parliamentary polls, portrays himself as a fierce nationalist opposed to both U.S. and Iranian interference in Iraq. He had formed an alliance with incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi since June, which looked set to falter.