By Oliver Holmes BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's Vice President Iyad Allawi endorsed Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday, a move that will be seen as a step towards reconciliation in a political system that desperately needs to rebuild to allow Baghdad to fight Islamic State. For years Allawi, a secular Shi'ite Muslim, has been an outspoken critic of former premier Nuri al-Maliki whom he has accused of acting like Saddam Hussein in trying to silence his opponents. Allawi, a former prime minister, is also a key figure in reaching out to disaffected Iraqi Sunnis who Abadi hopes he can bring back to the government side to battle Islamic State. Islamic State fighters have seized large chunks of Iraq's **rth and west this year.
09-15-2014, 08:16 AM
Iraq's Allawi endorses PM, says will help win over Sunnis
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