Iraqi government allies retreat on arms control, anti-graft drive

Political pressure is mounting on Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi as an end-of-September deadline for US forces to leave Iraq approaches, while disputes over weapons, corruption, and a deepening financial crisis pile fresh strain on his government. Informed sources said al-Zaidi’s recent meetings with leaders of the Shi’ite Coordination Framework were aimed at pressing the forces that backed him to help deliver the government’s pledges, chiefly bringing all weapons under state control and fighting corruption. Both issues have become major fault lines within the ruling Shi’ite alliance.

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