World

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, the leader of the Shia Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), had a long history of opposition to the rule of Saddam Hussein, and became one of Iraq’s most powerful figures after his downfall.
Hakim lived in exile in Iran for more than two decades before returning home in April 2003, one month after the US-led invasion.
Following the assassination in August of that year of his brother, Ayatollah Muhammad Baqr al-Hakim, he became head of SIIC’s precursor, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (Sciri).
Attacked for co-operating with the Coalition authorities and accused by others of being an Iranian agent, he nevertheless helped lead the Shia-dominated United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) to victory in the January and December 2005 parliamentary elections.
Despite Sciri’s political power and popular support, Hakim stepped back from the limelight and allowed other senior members to come to the fore. However, few doubted the fact that he was still in control.
In 2007, with support for the UIA-led government and Sciri dwindling amid widespread sectarian violence and claims of rampant corruption, he was diagnosed with lung cancer.
After a long battle, during which he was treated by doctors in Iran and the West, Hakim died in a hospital in Tehran on Wednesday.