BAGHDAD - Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s prime minister, announced on Thursday a new coalition that will run against former Shia Muslim allies in January’s national elections, raising the prospect of intra-sectarian strife.

In a speech in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, Mr Maliki left the door open to working with other political groups, but his allies told Reuters his State of Law coalition had no desire to join a rival alliance headed by other powerful Shia parties.