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| Sadr group quits Iraq ruling bloc | Sadr group quits Iraq ruling bloc |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The political movement loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has withdrawn from Iraq's governing Shia alliance. | The political movement loyal to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has withdrawn from Iraq's governing Shia alliance. |
| The move deprives Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's coalition of 32 votes - leaving it in control of about half the seats in parliament. | The move deprives Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's coalition of 32 votes - leaving it in control of about half the seats in parliament. |
| The decision, announced at a news conference in the holy city of Najaf, comes five months after Mr Sadr pulled out his ministers from the cabinet. | The decision, announced at a news conference in the holy city of Najaf, comes five months after Mr Sadr pulled out his ministers from the cabinet. |
| The group has complained that Mr Maliki has not consulted them over decisions. | The group has complained that Mr Maliki has not consulted them over decisions. |
| Other grievances voiced in the past by the Sadr bloc include their call - ignored by the prime minister - for a timetable for the withdrawal of US-led forces from Iraq. | |
| In August, the main Sunni alliance also withdrew from the Iraqi cabinet, which currently has 17 ministers - with 23 other portfolios left unfilled. | |
| Correspondents say the latest move will leave the administration in a precarious position, although Mr Maliki should be able to stay in power with support from Kurdish and independent members of parliament. |