Iraq’s government formation process took a further turn into the unknown on 12 June when the 73 MPs of the Sadrist movement resigned from parliament at the behest of their leader, the populist Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Eight months on from October’s parliamentary elections and the roadmap to a new government remains as uncertain as ever and the possibility of further elections can’t be discounted. (CONTINUED - 1172 WORDS)