InfoAnda - Powerful Iraqi Shiite leader has died in Iran

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Apple may have tried to block Spotify in U.S.: Parker | | 31 May 2012
Israel to Europe: Iran ships augur nuclear spread | | 23 February 2011
U.N. chief pushes for political dialogue in divided Yemen | | 19 November 2012

Infineon lowers outlook as hit by global slowdown | | 26 June 2012

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Powerful Iraqi Shiite leader has died in Iran

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Search Search: Powerful Iraqi Shiite leader has died in Iran By QASSIM ABDULZAHRA,Associated Press Writer AP - Thursday, August 27 BAGHDAD - Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, the scion of a revered clerical family who channeled rising Shiite Muslim power after the fall of Saddam Hussein to become one of Iraq's most powerful politicians, died Wednesday in Iran, the country that was long his powerful ally. He was 59. ADVERTISEMENT The calm, soft-spoken al-Hakim, who died of lung cancer, was a kingmaker in Iraq's politics, working behind the scenes as the head of the country's biggest Shiite political party. But for many in Iraq's Shiite majority, he was more than that _ a symbol of their community's victory and seizure of power after decades of oppression under Saddam's Sunni-led regime. Al-Hakim's family led a Shiite rebel group against Saddam's rule from their exile in Iran, where he lived for 20 years, building close ties with Iranian leaders. After Saddam's 2003 fall, al-Hakim hewed close to the Americans even while maintaining his alliance with Tehran, judging that the U.S. military was key to the Shiite rise. Among Iraq's minority Sunnis, he was deeply distrusted, seen as a tool of Shiite Iran. Al-Hakim's outspoken support for Shiite self-rule in southern Iraq was seen by Sunnis and even some Shiites as an Iran-inspired plan to hand Tehran control of Iraq's Shiite heartland, home to most of its oil wealth. His death comes at a time of political upheaval among Iraq's majority Shiites. The alliance of Shiite parties that al-Hakim helped forge and that has dominated the government since the first post-Saddam elections in 2005 has broken apart ahead of January parliamentary elections, pitting a coalition led by al-Hakim's party against another led by Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. As al-Hakim largely withdrew from the public arena due to his illness, his son and political heir Ammar has taken the lead in his party, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council. Ammar's relative lack of experience has raised some questions over whether he will be able to hold the organization together at a sensitive time in Iraqi politics, but party leaders have insisted they would remain united behind the al-Hakim family. Ammar announced his father's death in a statement read on his party's al-Forat television station. He said his father, "who spent decades in jihad and struggle, has joined the ranks of the martyrs." The station showed scenes from the elder al-Hakim's life while playing somber music. Two top aides, Humam Hamoudi and Jalaluddin al-Saghir, told The Associated Press that al-Hakim had been rushed to a hospital in Tehran after his condition deteriorated and died Wednesday. Al-Hakim was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2007 after tests at the prestigious University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He chose to receive his chemotherapy treatment in Iran. Deputy parliament speaker, Shiite Khalid al-Attiyah, described his death as a loss for Iraq. "We offer our condolences to all the Iraqi people for the death of al-Hakim. He is one of the symbols of Iraq ... we hope political leaders will continue his work." The Kurds, who allied with the Shiite coalition al-Hakim built, said his death was a loss to those who worked to reconcile Iraq's often warring religious and ethnic factions. "He had a significant role in Iraq's national unity and was working hard to narrow the different opinions among all Iraqis," Fuad Hussein, spokesman for Kurdish Regional President Massoud Barzani told The AP. "We hope that all the Iraqi people and their leaders will follow his example and directions and never abandon his ideology and path." Al-Hakim was born in 1950 in Najaf to one of Shiite Islam's most prestigious clerical families. His father was Grand Ayatollah Muhsin al-Hakim, among the most influential Shiite scholars of his generation. The younger al-Hakim studied theology in Najaf and married the daughter of Mohammed Hadi al-Sadr, member of another prominent Iraqi Shiite clan. After the 1970 death of his father, al-Hakim and his brothers became active in political opposition to Saddam's Baath Party. He was jailed several times until he and most of the family fled to neighboring Iran in 1980 following a crackdown by Saddam on the Shiite opposition. In Iran, his older brother, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, founded the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, the forerunner of the SIIC. Abdul-Aziz headed the group's military wing, the Badr Brigade, which fought alongside Iranian forces during the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War. The al-Hakim brothers returned to Iraq soon after the collapse of Saddam's government. On Aug. 29, 2003, a massive vehicle bomb exploded outside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, killing Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim and more than 80 others. Abdul-Aziz stepped into the leadership of the Supreme Council. The younger al-Hakim lacked his brother's charisma, religious standing or political acumen. But he proved a fast learner and able leader, quickly building the party into Iraq's largest Shiite political organization. He served on the leadership councils formed by the Americans. Then, in the 2005 parliament election, he forged a grand alliance of Shiite parties _ backed by Iran's foremost Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, which swept up a majority. The coalition allied with the Kurds to form a government, though it constantly struggled to keep Sunni allies. But signs of fraying among Shiites began to show in key Jan. 31 provincial elections, when members of the coalition competed against each other in the Shiite south. The Supreme Council suffered an embarrassing defeat in much of the south, while al-Maliki _ head of the rival Dawa party _ surged because of his popularity from security gains. The results were also seen as a voter backlash against religious parties as well as the Supreme Council's failure to improve public services in the south, where it had dominated since 2003. Two days before al-Hakim's death, his SIIC joined with followers of anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to form a new political alliance to contest January parliamentary elections. The new Iraqi National Alliance excluded al-Maliki, making overt the new disunity among Shiites. Al-Hakim is survived by his wife and three other children besides Ammar. ___ Associated Press Writers Hamza Hendawi, Sinan Salaheddin and Hamid Ahmed contributed to this report. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: World Kerry lauds Kennedy as 'best senator'AP - Thursday, August 27 Britain considers new high-speed rail to ScotlandAP - Thursday, August 27 One of two French agents in Somalia freedAFP - Thursday, August 27 Powerful Iraqi Shiite leader has died in IranAP - Thursday, August 27 Kennedy successor to be chosen by special electionAP - Thursday, August 27 Most Popular – World Viewed Profile of swine flu begins to emerge: study Jackson killed by drugs cocktail: court NASA calls off Discovery launch High bidder 'can't pay' for crypt atop Monroe Singer Chris Brown sentenced for Rihanna assault View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Thursday, 27 August 2009
One of two French agents in Somalia free
Social network users not taking security steps
US new home sales leap 9.6 percent
Powerful Iraqi Shiite leader has died in Iran
Selected quotes from Edward Kennedy
Japan robotics experts unveil sci-fi wheelchair
Israel says hopes to resume Palestinian talks soon | International |
Microsoft apologizes for photo gaffe
Videos of US homeless beatings spike online
U.N. chief says welcomes criticism after Norway memo | International |
Dutch judge threatens fines for filesharing website
US durable goods orders post steep jump
IBM, Indian outsourcers win services deal from BP
U.N. Liberia peacekeeper suspected of abuse found dead | International |
Koreas near deal on family reunions at rare talks
Karzai widens lead in Afghan vote count
Karzai widens lead in Afghan vote
Apple event expected soon, but no tablet in sight | Technology |
Ferry sinks off Indonesia's Bali, 9 dead
Thai military detains 2 Muslim suspects in bombing
Sirius hooks up iPhone to premium satellite radio | Technology |
Two Koreas agree to hold family reunions
New bird count finds more rare ibises in Cambodia
Taiwan officials: Dalai Lama to visit this month
'Over 100 sick' in typhoon-hit Taiwan village
Venezuela plans law to ban violent videogames | Technology |
Tropical storm Danny heads for Bahamas
Canada may reveal next step on Facebook privacy | Technology |
Va. SPCA exec's dog dies after 4 hours in hot car
Judge denies group's flu vaccine request
VA ends Gulf War illness research contract
Mitchell, Netanyahu say progress made at talks
White House Christmas tree will be fir from W.Va.
Pakistani 6-mth T-bill yield rises to 12.5517 pct
China shares rebound on bargain-hunting
Bob Dylan's Christmas album to benefit charity | Entertainment |
Fall Out Boy singer arrested on driving charge | Entertainment |
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Latino rocker sees Havana gig helping U.S.-Cuba thaw
Coroner says Jackson died from lethal dose of propofol | Entertainment |
Latino rocker sees Havana gig helping U.S.-Cuba thaw | Entertainment |
Britain pulls the plug on 'Big Brother'
Splat! Tomato fans paint town red in Spain
Outrage over Senegalese monument reaches new heights
Poverty and privilege: Lebanon's flawed prison system
Atheists on the march in America
UK's Channel 4 to ditch Big Brother reality show | Entertainment |
Indian art looks to emerge from shadows
Design chosen for Mumbai's 'Statue of Liberty'
Australia looks to ditch the beach for new global image
Pentagon profiling Afghan embed journalists: report
Financial watchdog chief backs tax on Brit banks
Karzai leads in Afghan poll, run-off indicated | International |
"Mona Lisa" comes to life in high-tech art exhibit
Pentagon profiling Afghan embed journalists: report
Iraqi Shi'ite party leader dies, successor eyed
Iran's Khamenei says protests planned before vote | International |
Apple readies iPhone for launch in China: report
Ciudad Juarez, deadliest city in the world: watchdog
Koreas near deal on family reunions at rare talks | International |
Iran's Khamenei says protests planned before vote
Google shuns in-person analyst day, goes online
Colombia says Chavez meddling, protests to OAS | International |
Schwarzenegger drops in on Twitter
Taiwan, challenging China, to let Dalai Lama visit | International |
Blanket US media coverage for Ted Kennedy death
News
Tycoon Slim, Qualcomm bring game console to Mexico
Japan opposition may win 2/3 majority: poll | International |
Analysis: Iraq's Shiite power base shifts
Wikipedia dabbles with way to thwart vandals
Iraqi PM steps up pressure on Syria over militants
Argentine government criticizes farmers' strike call | International |
News
Iranians gathering to mourn Shiite leader's death
Sirius hooks up iPhone to premium satellite radio
Venezuela plans law to ban violent videogames
Nokia plans to launch mobile 'banking'
Apple event expected soon, no tablet in sight | Technology |
Google shuns in-person analyst day, goes online | Technology |
Mona Lisa comes to life in high-tech art exhibit | Technology |
News
Sex scandal costs Malaysian party leader his job
News
Fiji seeks talks with Commonwealth on suspension
Time Warner Cable to test TV on the Internet: report | Technology |
News
Unicom to announce China iPhone deal: analyst | Technology |
Taiwan's government approves visit by Dalai Lama
Recession ends boom for Mexican smugglers' village
News
WA town's troublesome turkeys spared death
US senator lashes Myanmar sanctions
News
Taiwan's government approves visit from Dalai Lama
Taiwan's government OKs Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan
Koreas hold talks on reuniting divided families
NJ man who robbed banks on Thursdays gets 6 years
Karzai widens lead in Afghan vote count
News
Suspected vandal once campaigned for Dem candidate
Franken cancels event hosted by convicted swindler
Slain model's missing car found in West Hollywood
News
News
Seoul shares down 0.6 pct weighed on banks, techs
News
Slain model's missing car found in West Hollywood
Korea Hot Stocks
Author, journalist Dominick Dunne dies at 83 | Entertainment |
Capsule reviews: `Taking Woodstock,' others
NZ airline profit down as passengers, revenue slip
Bid for crypt above Marilyn Monroe falls through
Seoul shares down, led by financials
U.S. stars pushing America to dance to Europe's beat | Entertainment |
Author, journalist Dominick Dunne dies at 83
Green Day ends tour with exemplary arena show | Entertainment |
News
Parker Posey withdraws from off-B'way production
Pop songwriter Ellie Greenwich dies in New York | Entertainment |
Pop songwriter Ellie Greenwich dies in New York
News
Review: `World's Greatest Dad' a fearless comedy
Toyota recalls 95,700 cars in US over brakes risk
Chris Brown to get group counseling in Virginia
Nissan plans to temporarily lay off 2,025 workers in Spain
Jack Ingram sets record for radio interviews: 215
Israeli PM calls for 'crippling sanctions' against Iran
Sharp eyes niche between netbooks, phones
Discovery countdown to resume as valve starts working
Sweden's free speech tradition runs into Israeli ire
Nokia establishes unit to tie phones, services
Sudan's Darfur no longer at war: peacekeeping chief | International |
Israel's Netanyahu given Holocaust plans in Berlin | International |
Afghanistan caught in complex guessing game
Microsoft cuts price of high-end Xbox model by $100
Sudan's Darfur no longer at war
Iran MP says rape of some vote detainees proven | International |
Time Warner Cable to test TV on the Internet: report
Iranian women activists not fooled by president
Nissan, Chrysler scrap vehicle supply deal
Unicom to announce China iPhone deal: analyst
Suspected suicide bomber kills 20 in Pakistan | International |
SKorea mulls restricting missionary work in Mideast
Trade revives as Palestinian cities reconnect | International |
Iranians mourn Iraqi Shiite leader al-Hakim
Georgia slams railway robbery in rebel Abkhazia | International |
PLO picks new leaders at landmark meeting
China lawmakers clarify role of riot police | International |
Apple event expected soon, no tablet in sight
Shi'ite cleric's death shakes up Iraq politics | International |
Sharp eyes niche between netbooks, phones
Nokia establishes unit to tie phones, services
Microsoft cuts price of high-end Xbox model by $100
Microsoft cuts high-end Xbox price by 25 percent | Technology |
Facebook agrees to make Canada privacy changes | Technology |
Driver, 83, chases DWI suspect through NY, Conn.
Young Afghan freed from Guantanamo to sue US gov't
Nokia unveils its first Linux phone | Technology |
US missile strike 'kills four Taliban' in Pakistan
UN expert: Australia breached Aborigines' rights
Sharp eyes niche between netbooks, phones | Technology |
The Nation's Weather
Myanmar activist says China ignores junta's graft
Fame didn't separate Kennedy from little guy
Rapper Ja Rule in Aussie traffic 'mix-up'
UN envoy slams 'entrenched' racism in Australia
Hearing for suspect in 1980 killings of Wis. pair
3 Muslim civilians killed in southern Thailand
US Navy: Pirates fire on US helicopter
Italy antitrust probes Google on coercion claim | Technology |
Nokia establishes unit to tie phones, services | Technology |
China denounces proposed Dalai Lama visit to Taiwan
Memos: CIA pushed limits on sleep deprivation
SKorea wants regular reunions for divided families
US urges Yemen to go after growing al-Qaida threat
Myanmar police arrest 6 suspects after drug bust
Internet campaigning arrives cautiously in Japan
STIMULUS WATCH: GOP opposes plan then seeks money
Philippine Airlines to cut workers after big loss
Bank of China's 1H profit down 2.5 pct
Pakistani forex reserves ease to $12.85 bln
Pakistan to sell $1 bln of bonds to settle fuel debt
Japan's Mitsukoshi to axe 1,000 jobs: report
Philippines economy grows 1pct in first half: govt
China Telecom first-half profits drop 29 percent
Air New Zealand profit slumps 90 percent
SAIC 1H profit down 26 pct on Ssangyong investment
Indonesia terror network 'larger than thought'
Ten years on, 'impunity' reigns in ETimor: Amnesty
Beijing rewards patriotic moviegoers
SKorean disaster film biggest hit in 3 years
U.S. stars pushing America to dance to Europe's beat
Celebrity birthdays for Aug. 30-Sept. 5
Green Day ends tour with exemplary arena show
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01