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| Shia leader's body flown to Iraq | Shia leader's body flown to Iraq |
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| The body of the powerful Shia Muslim political leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who died in Iran on Wednesday, has arrived in Iraq for burial. | The body of the powerful Shia Muslim political leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who died in Iran on Wednesday, has arrived in Iraq for burial. |
| PM Nouri Maliki and hundreds of officials met the coffin of Hakim, the leader of one of Iraq's most powerful Shia parties, at Baghdad airport. | |
| The body is to be taken to the Shia shrine city of Karbala, before being buried in Najaf on Saturday. | The body is to be taken to the Shia shrine city of Karbala, before being buried in Najaf on Saturday. |
| Hakim was an important power broker and held strong ties with the US and Iran. | Hakim was an important power broker and held strong ties with the US and Iran. |
| He died on Wednesday in Tehran, where he was being treated for lung cancer. | He died on Wednesday in Tehran, where he was being treated for lung cancer. |
| Hundreds gathered in the Iranian capital on Thursday for a mourning ceremony where a tribute message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was read. | Hundreds gathered in the Iranian capital on Thursday for a mourning ceremony where a tribute message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was read. |
| ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM Born circa 1950, died 26 August 2009Leader of Islamist Shia party Sciri, later SIIC, since 2003Backed by Tehran, but maintaining close ties to its arch-rival WashingtonLost six of his seven brothers and 50 extended family members in resistance to Saddam Hussein Obituary: Abdul Aziz al-Hakim | ABDUL AZIZ AL-HAKIM Born circa 1950, died 26 August 2009Leader of Islamist Shia party Sciri, later SIIC, since 2003Backed by Tehran, but maintaining close ties to its arch-rival WashingtonLost six of his seven brothers and 50 extended family members in resistance to Saddam Hussein Obituary: Abdul Aziz al-Hakim |
| Security has been reinforced along the route of the funeral cortege in Baghdad, with many Shia followers expected to turn out to mourn him. | Security has been reinforced along the route of the funeral cortege in Baghdad, with many Shia followers expected to turn out to mourn him. |
| The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that such gatherings are often targeted by bombers. | The BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says that such gatherings are often targeted by bombers. |
| After failing to prevent recent attacks killing at least 100 people in the Iraqi capital, security forces are under pressure to show they can protect the city, our correspondent says. | After failing to prevent recent attacks killing at least 100 people in the Iraqi capital, security forces are under pressure to show they can protect the city, our correspondent says. |
| Hakim opposed Saddam Hussein from exile in Iran for more than two decades, before returning to Iraq in 2003 after the US-led invasion. | Hakim opposed Saddam Hussein from exile in Iran for more than two decades, before returning to Iraq in 2003 after the US-led invasion. |
| He took control of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri - which later became SIIC) after his brother was assassinated in Najaf in 2003. | He took control of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri - which later became SIIC) after his brother was assassinated in Najaf in 2003. |
| The party has several senior cabinet members, and its militia - the Badr Brigade - has at times wielded considerable influence in Iraq's security establishment. | The party has several senior cabinet members, and its militia - the Badr Brigade - has at times wielded considerable influence in Iraq's security establishment. |
| Revered family | Revered family |
| Since falling ill, Hakim had cut back his political involvement and his son Ammar gained prominence. He is expected to take over leadership of the party. | Since falling ill, Hakim had cut back his political involvement and his son Ammar gained prominence. He is expected to take over leadership of the party. |
| Hakim was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 and had chemotherapy | Hakim was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 and had chemotherapy |
| As heir to the leadership of one of the main anti-Saddam Hussein factions in Iraq, Abdul Aziz Hakim managed to keep good ties with both the American authorities and Iran, which strongly backed his group. | As heir to the leadership of one of the main anti-Saddam Hussein factions in Iraq, Abdul Aziz Hakim 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 charismatic 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. | His brother and predecessor as party leader was the charismatic 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. |
| The family is revered among Iraq's largest religious community, the Shia, for its tradition of scholarship and its bouts of resistance against Saddam Hussein in its southern Iraqi stronghold. | The family is revered among Iraq's largest religious community, the Shia, for its tradition of scholarship and its bouts of resistance against Saddam Hussein in its southern Iraqi stronghold. |
| However, the quietly-spoken Hakim was distrusted by many Sunnis who saw him as too Iranian-orientated and sectarian in his political philosophy. | However, the quietly-spoken Hakim was distrusted by many Sunnis who saw him as too Iranian-orientated and sectarian in his political philosophy. |
| In 2007, the party changed its name from Sciri - the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq - to the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. | In 2007, the party changed its name from Sciri - the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq - to the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. |
| SIIC has been part of Iraq's ruling Shia alliance, the United Iraqi Alliance, led by the Islamic Dawa party of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | SIIC has been part of Iraq's ruling Shia alliance, the United Iraqi Alliance, led by the Islamic Dawa party of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| However, ahead of national elections in January, the SIIC announced last week that it would campaign from within a new Shia Muslim bloc. | However, ahead of national elections in January, the SIIC announced last week that it would campaign from within a new Shia Muslim bloc. |