Leader of Iraq's largest Sunni bloc sacked

By Amir al-Saadi

BAGHDAD (AA) – The largest Sunni bloc in the Iraqi parliament has sacked its leader after weeks of divisions.

Twenty-seven MPs voted for sacking Ahmed al-Massari, leader of the Iraqi Forces Alliance, in a vote held late Tuesday, a parliamentary source told Anadolu Agency, requesting anonymity because he was unauthorized to speak to media.

Four MPs voted against the move, while one abstained, the source said.

According to the source, the alliance leaders will meet soon to set a mechanism for electing a new leader of the Sunni bloc.

Al-Massari was elected a leader of the Sunni alliance in 2014, but differences recently hit the bloc over priorities in the post-Daesh era in Iraq.