(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi yesterday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State.
For years Allawi, a secular Shia, has been an outspoken critic of former premier Nouri Al Maliki whom he has accused of acting like Saddam Hussein in trying to silence his opponents. His endorsement will lend political capital to Abadi, who comes from the same Dawa political party as Maliki but has been regarded as more inclusive.
"I frankly believe very strongly that (Abadi) understands the problems and he means well. We hope to help him," Allawi said in a Reuters interview at his home in Baghdad.
Allawi, a former prime minister, is also a key figure in reaching out to disaffected Iraqi Sunnis who Abadi hopes he can bring back to the government side to battle Islamic State. Abadi has promised to offer amnesties and to stop the bombardment of cities, a move Allawi said convinced him of Abadi's resolve.
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