Sadr urges friendship in meeting with regional diplomats
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraq’s election winner Muqtada al-Sadr received regional diplomats on Friday.
According to a statement from his office, Sadr welcomed ambassadors of Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Kuwait.
During their meeting, Sadr expressed his hope that “this blessed month [of Ramadan] will shed its blessed light on relations between the Islamic and Arab countries and unite their words in love and peace, especially the neighboring countries that have historical and cultural ties with Iraq.”
He said he wanted the neighbours to be “friends, not enemies” and hoped they would show strong support for Iraq.
Sadr ran on a non-sectarian, anti-corruption platform in an alliance with the Communist Party. He has said he wants to form a technocratic government. He asked his visitors to help with that goal.
Fatih Yildiz, Turkish ambassador to Iraq, tweeted after their meeting, saying they “evaluated the events which took place after elections and Turkish-Iraqi relations.”
The election commission, which has come under fire for failing to investigate accusations of electoral fraud, was expected to release final results Friday night.
Though Sadr has emerged victor in the election, followed by the Fatih alliance that is tied to Iranian-backed militias and pushed incumbent Haider al-Abadi into third place, pundits predict Abadi may retain his position, but with reduced influence.
According to a statement from his office, Sadr welcomed ambassadors of Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Kuwait.
During their meeting, Sadr expressed his hope that “this blessed month [of Ramadan] will shed its blessed light on relations between the Islamic and Arab countries and unite their words in love and peace, especially the neighboring countries that have historical and cultural ties with Iraq.”
He said he wanted the neighbours to be “friends, not enemies” and hoped they would show strong support for Iraq.
Sadr ran on a non-sectarian, anti-corruption platform in an alliance with the Communist Party. He has said he wants to form a technocratic government. He asked his visitors to help with that goal.
Fatih Yildiz, Turkish ambassador to Iraq, tweeted after their meeting, saying they “evaluated the events which took place after elections and Turkish-Iraqi relations.”
The election commission, which has come under fire for failing to investigate accusations of electoral fraud, was expected to release final results Friday night.
Though Sadr has emerged victor in the election, followed by the Fatih alliance that is tied to Iranian-backed militias and pushed incumbent Haider al-Abadi into third place, pundits predict Abadi may retain his position, but with reduced influence.