Iraq's outgoing PM Iyad Allawi has agreed that his parliamentary bloc will join the new government, and he is in negotiations on what cabinet posts it will receive.‘‘Allawi decided that his bloc will take part in the new government because he believes in making the political and democratic process in Iraq successful,’’ spokesman Thaer al-Naqib said.Allawi’s supporters had previously said they would not join the government, preferring to act as Opposition. Allawi’s bloc has 40 seats in the 275-member parliament, behind the Shia Islamist-led alliance and a Kurdish coalition that won 75 seats. Including the bloc in the new cabinet will mean Iraq’s government has more claim to being a national unity administration, with no major parliamentary groups not represented in the cabinet. Pak official abductedBAGHDAD: A militant group claimed to have abducted a Pakistani embassy official in Baghdad. ‘‘Persons claiming to be members of Omar bin Khattab group have apparently abducted the official,’’ said a Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement. Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities claimed that they have arrested a nephew of Saddam Hussein suspected of playing a major part in financing insurgency. Ibrahim Sabawi was arrested from Baghdad. — Agencies
