In Iraq, Sadrists conclude two-day referendum

The followers of senior Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr have remarkably attended a referendum on who qualifies as Iraq's future prime minister.

The two-day vote, seen as an attempt to relieve post-election unease in Iraq, concluded on Saturday evening.

"The referendum has concluded and the participation rate was very high," said Saleh al-Obeidi, the Najaf-based spokesman for the movement, AFP reported. "The counting process has already started in the provinces, and in the next few days we will release the results."

The referendum came after disputed results of the March 7 parliamentary polls pointed to a narrow victory by the coalition led by former Premier Iyad Allawi over his main rival and incumbent Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Neither party has won enough seats to form a coalition government.

Sadr has withdrawn support for both contenders and asked his followers to vote in the plebiscite for their prime minister of choice.

Sadr's bloc has denied the vote was a re-run of the elections and the referendum has reportedly no official role in deciding the ultimate winner.

Prior to last month's elections, Sadr urged the Iraqi electorate to help end the US-led occupation of the country by going to polling stations.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122356§ionid=351020201.