Main Sunni bloc says it withdraws from Iraq govt

BAGHDAD, Aug 1 (Reuters) The main Sunni Arab political bloc said today it was withdrawing from Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition government over his failure to meet a list of demands.

The move is likely to complicate efforts by Maliki's shaky government to agree on a series of laws which Washington sees as crucial to bringing minority Sunni Arabs more closely into the political process and quelling sectarian violence.

The Accordance Front, which last week suspended the work of its six ministers in government, had wanted a greater say in security matters and had accused Maliki's Shi'ite led-coalition government of failing to consult it on key issues.

''The Accordance Front is announcing that is withdrawing from the government of Nuri al-Maliki and its deputy prime minister and the five ministers will present today their resignations,'' Accordance Front official Rafei Issawi told a news conference.

Six ministers loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr also quit Maliki's government in June in protest over his refusal to set a timetable for a U S troop withdrawal. They have not yet been replaced.

REUTERS RN HT1530