Irak

[Seccad]

Shiite cleric hails Iraq elections


09:52:26 ق.ظ
Najaf, Iraqi, Jan 31 - Shiite spiritual leader grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani congratulated Iraqis on turning out to vote Sunday and expressed regret he had been unable to take part himself because of his Iranian nationality.

The cleric relayed his message through his representative in the nearby shrine city of Karbala.

"Grand Ayatollah Sistani thanks the Iraqi people for going to vote," said Ayatollah Ahmed al-Safi.

Sistani "has not headed to the polling centre himself because he does not have the right to vote," said Safi, alluding to the Iranian-born cleric's foreign nationality.

SR

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=186642