Politics
08:22, 19-May-2018
Cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s bloc wins Iraq election
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A political bloc led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has won the country's parliamentary election, capturing 54 parliamentary seats, the electoral commission said on Saturday.
The bloc led by pro-Iranian Shia militia chief Hadi al-Amiri came in second with 47 seats. And the Victory Alliance, headed by incumbent Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, took third place with 42.
Who is Moqtada al-Sadr?
Sadr is an opponent of both the US and Iran, which have wielded influence in Iraq since a US-led invasion toppled Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003 and thrust the Shia majority into power.
The cleric has led two uprisings against US forces in Iraq and is one of the few Shia leaders to distance himself from Iran.
Projecting himself as an Iraqi nationalist, Sadr has a zealous following among the young, poor and dispossessed.
He cannot become prime minister as he did not run in the election, though his apparent victory puts him in a position to pick someone for the job. But even then, his bloc might not necessarily form the next government.
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