Iraq won’t be used to attack neighbors: Sairoon bloc

By Haydar Hadi

BAGHDAD (AA) - A spokesman for Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s Sairoon movement -- which came in first in May 12 parliamentary polls -- has said that his party will not let Iraq turn into a launchpad for attacking other countries of the region.

In televised comments on Wednesday, Sairoon spokesman Ziya al-Asad asserted that the movement would not serve U.S. dictates.

“We reject all but a diplomatic U.S. presence in Iraq,” he said. “We will not let our country become a staging area for attacking our neighbors.”

In regards to al-Sadr’s recent visits to Saudi Arabia, al-Asad said that al-Sadr’s good relations with Riyadh were “no secret”.

He also said it was likely al-Sadr would throw his support behind a second term for incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi if the latter left the Dawa Party.

Al-Sadr’s Sairoon coalition came in first in Iraq’s May 12 polls, followed by al-Abadi's Victory Coalition and the Hashd al-Shaabi-linked Al-Fatih bloc.