Allawi to appeal disqualifications

Former Iraqi Iyad Allawi says his bloc will launch an appeal against a recent judicial decision to invalidate 52 candidates of the March 7 parliamentary elections.

“We will take action against this dangerous situation,” Allawi told reporters at a joint news conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara.

Allawi, whose bloc won a slim victory over incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bloc, made the remarks after an Iraqi judicial panel announced the disqualification of 52 candidates for alleged ties to former dictator Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party.

“We have instructed a group of lawyers to object to this decision at the appeals court. I am sure we will be successful,” he added.

Most of the candidate are said to be members of Allawi’s Iraqiya list.