Know Your Iraqi Factions.

MAIN IRAQI FACTIONS

SHIITES
They are the majority of Iraq's 28 million people. Shiites were brutally repressed by Saddam Hussein, but took back political power with a coalition of parties in parliament. Some factions have been linked with armed militias.
Dawa Party: Split between two factions, it's the oldest organized Shiite Islamist party. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki controls one faction and led in the recent provincial poll.
Sadr Trend: Headed by popular young anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who may return as a coalition partner of Dawa after recent election. Sadr's militia, the Mahdi Army, has now fractured, and he is focusing on political rather than military gains.
Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council: Headed by Shiite cleric Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim and close to the Badr Brigade militia, now part of Iraq's national security forces. Ally of Dawa, but more pro-Iranian, and losing popular support.
Iraqi National Congress: Faction headed by Ahmed Chalabi, a rotating president of Iraq Governing Council, and once mooted by Washington to replace Saddam. Faction has switched alliances since the invasion and has little broad popular support.

SUNNIS

They are a significant minority in Iraq. Dominant in Saddam's Iraq, Sunnis suffered attacks and displacement after his overthrow, and some joined violent rebellions. They hold more than 50 seats in the 275-member Iraqi parliament.
Iraqi Accord Front: Fractious coalition of three parties led by deputy president Tariq al-Hashimi and including his large Iraqi Islamic Party. It is opposed to U.S. troops remaining in Iraq and to the country's draft oil law, which it says favours foreign companies.
Iraqi Front for National Dialogue: Bloc headed by former Baathist Saleh al-Mutlak, with power base in Saddam's home province of Salah ad-Din province. Views similar to Iraqi Accord Front.

Awakening Councils: a movement of tribal groups formed to fight al Qaeda militants, they are now working to form a political base, hampered by internal power struggles.

KURDS
Once brutalized by Saddam, Iraq's third main minority is largely Sunni and inhabits the most peaceful and prosperous part of Iraq, an autonomous territory in the north.
Kurdistan Alliance: Formerly warring factions, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan jointly run the Kurdistan Regional Government. PUK leader Jalal Talabani is Iraq's president. Both parties want more control over Iraq's oil, and are influential in determining Iraq's contentious draft oil law. The Alliance includes several smaller parties.

SECULAR
Iraqi National Accord: Leads a small secular bloc headed by Ayad Allawi, a Shiite but former Saddam ally, then leader of an exiled student opposition. Was former prime minister; now boycotts the cabinet.

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