Iraqi Shia paramilitary leader withdraws candidacy for PM

Amiri heads the Fatih Aliance, an electoral bloc which came in second in May's inconclusive national election. His coalition has been vying to build the largest bloc which would form the government, with him as prime minister."I would like to announce to the dear Iraqi people the withdrawal of my candidacy for prime minister, to open the way for serious dialogue to elect a prime minister and his government according to the vision of the Supreme religious authority," he said in a news conference.Amiri's Fatih alliance was composed of political groups tied to Iran-backed Shia militias who helped government forces dislodge Islamic State militants from the third of Iraq they seized four years ago. His Badr Organisation controls the interior ministry.Amiri's Alliance has been in advanced talks with Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to form a new alliance in recent days.Sadr, whose Saeroon bloc scored a stunning victory in the May 12 parliamentary election, portrays himself as a fierce nationalist opposed to both US and Iranian interference in Iraq. He had formed an alliance with incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi since June, which looked set to falter.