BAGHDAD, May 12 (UPI) -- The group led by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has accused U.S. authorities of interfering in the formation of the new Iraqi government currently facing obstacles.
Al-Fadila Party, which is among seven Shiite groups making up the United Shiite Coalition, the largest bloc in parliament, announced that it will not participate in the government in protest against denying its candidate the oil portfolio.
Bahaa Aaraji, from Sadr's bloc in parliament, said Friday the U.S. administration is trying to interfere in the structure of the new government being formed by Prime Minister Designate Nouri al-Maliki.
"The occupation forces are trying to interfere in the distribution of certain ministries, notably the economic and security ministries, but this attempt was rejected by most political blocs, including the Shiite coalition and the prime minister designate," Aaraji said, adding that many obstacles continued to disrupt the formation of the government despite serious efforts to achieve consensus.
The defense portfolio had been allocated to the Iraqi list led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, Aaraji said, while the interior ministry was given to the Shiite coalition.
Al-Fadila party said it will not participate in the government "because it is an administration of personal interests."
The party wanted to keep the oil ministry, which it held under the outgoing government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.
The party's spokesman said "we found out that the reasoning adopted in the formation of the administration is based on personal and sectarian interests... Nevertheless, we will be monitoring the government's performance through parliament."
In another development, the U.S. army said four Marines drowned when their vehicle fell from a bridge into the Euphrates in western Iraq Friday. Three U.S. soldiers were killed Thursday in an explosion in Hullah, south of Baghdad.
