Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi today announced his candidacy for the May 12 parliamentary elections to choose a prime minister. <br/><br/>Abadi, a Shi'ite Muslim who led the country in the four-year war against Islamic State terror group, said he will seek to form a cross-sectarian block called ''the victory alliance'' to contest the parliamentary elections. <br/><br/>Abadi took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran. Maliki, who heads the Shi'ite Dawa party, announced yesterday that he will be running in the elections. Abadi is a Dawa member but he did not secure Maliki's endorsement for his candidacy. <br/><br/><br/>Maliki said Dawa supporters will be free to choose between his alliance, called ''state of law'', and Abadi's ''victory alliance.'' Maliki holds the ceremonial title of vice-president. He remains a powerful political figure as head of the Dawa and the largest political block in the current parliament.