Iraq's main Sunni bloc pulls out of govt talks

BAGHDAD, Feb 23 (Reuters) Iraq's main Sunni Muslim bloc today pulled out of negotiations for the formation of a new government, blaming the ruling Shi'ite alliance for sectarian violence that has killed dozens of Sunnis in the past 24 hours.

''We are suspending our participation in negotiations on the government with the Shi'ite Alliance,'' Tareq al-Hashemi, a top official of the Iraqi Accordance Front, told a news conference.

REUTERS SHR HS2141