Iraqi firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr’s movement on Saturday announced its refusal to join a new government being formed by prime minister-designate Mohammad Shia al-Sudani. The announcement came two days after lawmakers elected Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq’s new president, and he swiftly named Sudani as prime minister in a bid to end a year of political gridlock since October 2021 elections. “We stress our firm and clear refusal for any of our affiliates to participate… in this government formation,” Mohammed Saleh al-Iraqi, a close associate of Sadr, said in a statement posted on Twitter. The …