Kurds, Shiites create alliance

BAGHDAD, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has announced an alliance between Shiite and Kurdish parties that will give the groups a majority in Iraq's National Assembly.

The new alliance between Iraq’s two main Kurdish parties -- along with the Islamic Dawa Party and Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council -- is being called “the moderates front,” The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said Thursday.

"Our alliance is for the success of the political process and it is open for all," said Talabani.

The alliance was announced in a joint press conference that included Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahi and Masoud Barzani, president of Iraq's Kurdistan region.