Barred From Provincial Elections

Friends,
A look at Iraq from FT London. The barring of followers of Sadr from voting in the fall provincial elections, would create chaos. These elections are very important and were the impetus for the Basra fight.

Rev O

"Iraq’s prime minister raised the stakes in his showdown with followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, saying in an interview broadcast on Monday they would be barred from elections unless their militia disbands."

"Maliki’s threat to drive Sadr’s millions of supporters out of the political process heightens tensions in a conflict that has divided Iraq’s Shia majority and led to the worst fighting since extra U.S. troops arrived last year."

"Sadr’s followers are due this year to participate for the first time in elections for powerful provincial government posts that control the southern half of the country -- and are widely expected to oust less-popular Shia parties that back Maliki."

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