BBC: Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr's bloc wins Iraq elections
An alliance headed by a former Shia militia chief who led two uprisings against the US-led invasion of Iraq has won the parliamentary elections.
But Moqtada Sadr, who is also staunchly opposed to Iranian involvement in the country, cannot become prime minister as he did not stand as a candidate.
However, he is expected to play a major role in forming the new government.
The party of outgoing PM Haider al-Abadi was pushed into third place, behind a pro-Iranian alliance.
Mr Sadr's win represents a remarkable comeback for the cleric after he was sidelined for years by Iranian-backed rivals.
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WNU Editor: To begin .... this election did not face the violence of past years .... and this is an incredible accomplishment. As for the election .... there were 329 seats up for grabs, and the breakdown on who won what is this .... Sadr's Saeroun bloc won 54 seats of the 329 seats in the parliament, the most of any coalition. The pro-Iranian Fatah Alliance, led by Hadi al-Amiri, took 48 seats, while the Victory Alliance, led by Washington's preferred candidate, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, won 42 seats. Bottom line .... a coalition government needs to be formed. This is probably going to take some time, and what is not helping the situation is that before the election Iran publicly stated that it would not allow al-Sadr's bloc to govern. And speaking of Iran .... according to Al Jazeera .... Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of foreign operations for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and a highly influential figure in Iraq, has been holding talks with politicians in Baghdad to promote the formation of a new cabinet that would have Iran's approval.
More News On Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Coalition Wins The Most Seats In Iraq's Parliamentary Election
Militant-turned-populist cleric Sadr wins Iraqi election -- AP
Cleric Sadr wins Iraq poll but forming government far off -- AFP
Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's bloc wins Iraq election -- Reuters
Populist cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's coalition wins Iraq's election -- CNN
Al Sadr's bloc confirmed as winner of Iraq election -- The National
Iraq elections final results: Sadr's bloc wins parliamentary poll -- Al Jazeera
After election victory, Sadr tweets to Iraqis ‘we will not let you down’ -- Al Arabiya
Analysis: Political earthquake in Iraq threatens to thwart Iran's plans -- Arutz Sheva
Sadr’s bloc wins Iraq election but forming government far off -- Middle East Eye
New Iraqi Government Unlikely to Cozy up to Iran -- Stratfor
1 comment:
I love ayatollahs. They are so cute and cuddly.
You can house them after they flee their country.
You can feed them and they will absolutely turn around and bite the hand that feeds them.
True the people that feed them have ulterior motives. But in some cases people with ulterior motives have motives that align with yours.
Sadam housed Khomeini. Then France did. Did France get a thank you. Nah, it just put them #3 on the list after Israel and America.
Sadr either would not be alive or have the stature that he has if not for Iran. Iran supported him, but elevated Hadi al-Amiri as a counter weight. Hey, of you are superpower, you can back and bet on more than one horse. Iran is a regional superpower. Iran could be Saudi Arabia on a stand up fight with 55 to 45 odds or maybe better; it is a regional; superpower.
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