Resalyoon chief says quit bloc

NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi lawmaker on Thursday announced he quit his bloc that was planning to participate in the forthcoming provincial council elections. “I have announced for all a month ago that I am, as a leader of the Resalyoon bloc, which will vie for seats in the provincial council elections, withdrawing the bloc,” Nusseir al-Issawi said in a press conference he held at the headquarters of the politburo of the Sadrist bloc, or Iraqis loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr. “I ultimately renew my withdrawal once again today while in the same time I stress my support for Sayyid (Master) Muqtada al-Sadr in backing the independent candidates,” Issawi added. Sadr had issued a statement in which he withdrew support from a number of lists taking part in the local elections, scheduled to be held on January 31, 2009, including Issawi’s Resalyoon. AmR (P) 1