Iraq's Muqtada Sadr casts vote in parliamentary elections
Reuters
2014-04-30
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Shi'ite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr casts his vote Wednesday to elect the country's new parliament in Iraq's first national election since U.S. forces withdrew in 2011.
Sadr spearheaded militant uprisings against U.S. forces before their withdrawal in December 2011.
Last February, Sadr announced that he was leaving political life and dissolved his movement. He now is urging supporters to vote as Prime Minister Nuri Maliki seeks a third term.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials and political leaders cast their ballots.
Iraq's Sunni Muslim parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, seen as Maliki's main rival, ruled out any alliance with Maliki.
(SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) IRAQ'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER, OSAMA AL-NUJAIFI, SAYING:
"This is a deferred matter now, we have red lines and we will not forge an alliance with the current prime minister at all."
Political analysts say no party is likely to win a majority.
The coming period will test Iraq's democracy. It took n
Sadr spearheaded militant uprisings against U.S. forces before their withdrawal in December 2011.
Last February, Sadr announced that he was leaving political life and dissolved his movement. He now is urging supporters to vote as Prime Minister Nuri Maliki seeks a third term.
In Baghdad, Iraqi officials and political leaders cast their ballots.
Iraq's Sunni Muslim parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi, seen as Maliki's main rival, ruled out any alliance with Maliki.
(SOUNDBITE) (ARABIC) IRAQ'S PARLIAMENT SPEAKER, OSAMA AL-NUJAIFI, SAYING:
"This is a deferred matter now, we have red lines and we will not forge an alliance with the current prime minister at all."
Political analysts say no party is likely to win a majority.
The coming period will test Iraq's democracy. It took n
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