The Washington Post/Tamer El-Ghobashy and Mustafa Salim: Maverick cleric’s election upset could rattle U.S.-Iraq relations

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Maverick cleric’s election upset could rattle U.S.-Iraq relations
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Shiite cleric takes surprising lead in Iraqi election

An electoral ticket backed by Moqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shi'ite cleric and staunch U.S. critic, has emerged as a front-runner in Iraq's election. (Reuters)
by Tamer El-Ghobashy and Mustafa Salim May 14 at 6:19 PM Email the author

BAGHDAD — The surprisingly strong showing of a ticket backed by maverick cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Iraqi elections over the weekend will force U.S. officials to recalculate how best to pursue American interests in the region at an especially sensitive moment.

Sadr is a ferocious critic of...