Iraq PM attends memorial service for Al-Hakim

2009-08-28 09:13 BJT

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Iraq's Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has attended a memorial service for Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, one of the nation's most influential politicians.

Al-Hakim died on Wednesday in Tehran at the age of 59, after a long battle against lung cancer. He channeled rising Shiite Muslim power after the fall of Saddam Hussein to become one of Iraq's most influential politicians, maintaining ties with both the US and Iran.

The country's Vice President, Adel Abdul Mahdi, said at that Al-Hakim's body will arrive at Baghdad International Airport on Friday morning.

A solemn funeral procession will follow. Al-Hakim was diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2007. He then started undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Iran.

Editor: Zhang Pengfei | Source: CCTV.com