Hakim son becomes Iraq party head

Ammar al-Hakim has been a leading figure in the Supreme Council

Ammar al-Hakim, son of Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who recently died of lung cancer, has succeeded his father as leader of Iraq's largest Shia party.

His nomination was confirmed in a vote of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council's governing body, known as the Shura.

Mr Hakim is a cleric in his 30s who has played a leading role in the SIIC since his father's cancer diagnosis in 2007.

He takes formal control at a critical time for the party ahead of parliamentary elections in January.

The Supreme Council suffered a setback in local elections earlier in 2009, losing control of a number of councils in southern Iraq.

But correspondents say the SIIC nevertheless remains one of the most popular, powerful and well-organised political parties in Iraq.

It recently formed a new Shia-led alliance to compete in the forthcoming national polls without Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Dawa party.

In a press conference Mr Hakim called for other parties to join the new grouping, the Iraqi National Alliance.

"I call for the formation of a wide national front to include all lists and blocs and alliances of national powers in our country," he was quoted as saying.

"With solidarity we can revive the political process and confront the big challenges inside Iraq and at regional level."

The Supreme Council was founded in Iran in exile during Saddam Hussein's rule and has close ties to Iran's rulers.