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| Iraq Shia leader dies of cancer | Iraq Shia leader dies of cancer |
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| Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of one of the most powerful Shia Muslim parties in Iraq, has died, his aides say. | Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of one of the most powerful Shia Muslim parties in Iraq, has died, his aides say. |
| Hakim had been suffering from cancer and had been receiving treatment in hospital in the Iranian capital Tehran. | Hakim had been suffering from cancer and had been receiving treatment in hospital in the Iranian capital Tehran. |
| Correspondents say the death of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) leader adds further uncertainty ahead of national elections next January. | Correspondents say the death of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC) leader adds further uncertainty ahead of national elections next January. |
| He led the SIIC from 2003 when his brother was killed after his return to Iraq following the US-led invasion. | He led the SIIC from 2003 when his brother was killed after his return to Iraq following the US-led invasion. |
| The cleric was diagnosed with lung cancer during a trip to the US for tests in May 2007. He chose to receive chemotherapy treatment in Tehran. | |
| As heir to the leadership of one of the main anti-Saddam Hussein factions in Iraq, he managed to keep good ties with both the American authorities and Iran, which strongly backed his group. | |
| His brother and predecessor as party leader was the Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqr al-Hakim, who was killed along with about 100 supporters in a massive car bombing in the city of Najaf in August 2003. | |
| Some time after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, the party changed its name from Sciri - the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. |