Iraq’s top Shiite authority urges voters not to re-elect ‘corrupt’ MPs

Karbala (Iraq) (AFP) – Iraq’s highest Shiite authority, whose opinions carry great weight in the country, on Friday urged voters not to re-elect “corrupt” MPs during next week’s national elections.

Abdel Mehdi al-Karbalai, the representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, issued the call during weekly Friday prayers.

He said Iraqis who will vote in the May 12 polls should not re-elect candidates from among MPs and officials who have already held government jobs and proved to be “corrupt and failing”.