A SHIITE leader claiming victory in Iraq's election said today he wanted all groups, including Sunni Arabs, to help shape the country's future. "The United Iraqi Alliance scored a sweeping victory. We know that the majority of those who voted cast their vote for the alliance," Abdul Aziz al-Hakim said. Hakim tops the candidate list of the Alliance, drawn up with the blessing of revered Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. He also leads the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq, one of the main parties in the powerful Alliance. Iraq's 60 per cent Shiite majority thronged to the polls on Sunday, but many of the Sunni minority, which dominated Iraq under deposed dictator Saddam Hussein, stayed away.| "We'll stay in our tents and sulk. Elections are ucky." |
Hakim said his Alliance was discussing a coalition with the main Kurdish bloc, expected to come second in the polls. Such a combination could well dominate the new National Assembly. But he said that Shiites wanted to reach out to Sunni Arab groups, including those that boycotted the polls. "We want to work with them," he said. "Even those who didn't take part in the elections, we are ready to cooperate with them. We will work to make them part of the political process, in writing the constitution and also to take part in the responsibility of running Iraq."
The election was for a 275-member National Assembly which must agree, with a two-thirds majority, on a president and two vice presidents, who will pick a prime minister and a cabinet. The Assembly will also oversee the drafting of a permanent constitution. Sunni Arab participation is essential because Sunnis could potentially veto the constitution when a referendum is held to approve it in October. Hakim said it was too soon to speculate who the next prime minister would be. The incumbent, Iyad Allawi, a secular Shiite, is seen as a leading candidate, along with Finance Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, a member of Hakim's party.