US blamed for killing of prominent Shia MP - Middle East, World - The Independent

US blamed for killing of prominent Shia MP - Middle East, World - The Independent: "US blamed for killing of prominent Shia MP

By Patrick Cockburn
Friday, 10 October 2008
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A powerful member of the Iraqi parliament that is loyal to the anti-American Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was killed in a carefully planned assassination in Baghdad yesterday.

A bomb hidden in a hole in the road exploded as a convoy carrying Salehal-Auqaeili and other lawmakers went past an Iraqi army checkpoint near Sadr City. It is probable that the killing was carried out by the Badr Organisation, the armed wing of the other large Shia party, the Iraqi Supreme Council of Iraq, who are long-time rivals of the Sadrists.

Mr Auqaeili was a senior member of the 30-member Sadrist bloc in the 275-member parliament. Competition between the political parties of the majority Shia community has become increasingly fierce in the lead-up to the provincial elections which are due to take place next year.

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