The Iranian-backed Shiite parties that helped propel Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki into power three years ago dumped him Aug. 24 as their candidate for re-election, forming a new alliance to contest the January vote.

The move dealt a blow to al-Maliki's chances to keep his job next year and set the stage for a showdown between competing factions in the Shiite coalition that had dominated Iraq's government since the fall of President Saddam Hussein in 2003.

The Shiite prime minister's efforts to win public confidence by portraying himself as a champion of security have taken a battering in recent weeks. A wave of horrific bombings has called into question the government's ability to protect the Iraqi people two months after most U.S. forces pulled out of urban areas.