Sistani Poll Official in 'US Custody'

Sistani Poll Official in 'US Custody'

al Jazeera

The man in charge of drawing up an electoral list backed by Grand Ayat Allah Ali al-Sistani, the influential Iraqi Shia Muslim leader, has been arrested by the US military, an aide said.

"American forces on Saturday arrested Muhammad Hashim al-Yahya, coordinator of the six-person committee set up by the Marjaiya (Iraq's highest Shiite authority) to supervise the drawing up of an electoral list with the backing of the ayatollah," a Sistani representative in the holy city of Najaf said.

"If he is not released, there will be serious consequences," the source said, giving no reason for Yahya's arrest in Baghdad.

The US military said it had heard reports of the arrest but was unable to give any further information.

On Tuesday, Shia political leaders said that they were in the final stages of drawing up an electoral list that had Sistani's blessing, in advance of the landmark elections scheduled for 30 January.