Iraqi Shiites exclude Sadr from election alliance

[bemildred]

Iraq's majority Shiite Muslims have announced a broadly-based alliance ahead of next month's key elections, which is backed by their highest religious leader but excludes radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The United Iraqi Alliance groups the Dawa Party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) and Ahmed Chalabi's Iraqi National Congress.

But Sadr, whose militia battled US-led forces in Baghdad and Najaf before calling a truce, is not on the 228-strong list backed by Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani.

"It contains parties and political currents as well as independent figures of different confessions and ethnic groups and takes into consideration the demographic and geographic balance in Iraq," Dawa's Ali Adib said.

ABC.AU

[KingChicken]

1. Pull the malita back out, time to take Najaf again...

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1059770