Sadr Encourages Followers to Vote Against Occupation
Al-Mada is issued daily by Al-Mada institution for Media, Culture, and Arts.
The young Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on his followers to take part in the coming elections. He said people should vote for slates or candidates that best serve Iraq and help withdraw foreign (forces), said Mustafa al-Yaqoobi, a Sadr spokesman. Some leaders with Sadr's movement recently joined the United Iraqi Alliance list. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, secretary-general of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, said his slate contains 17 political blocs including the Dawa Party, led by prime minister Ibrahim al-Jafari, and the Sadrist movement.