Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council head chosen

BAGHDAD, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Ammar al-Hakim has been elected to head the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, succeeding his late father Abdulaziz al-Hakim, party officials said.

Al-Hakim told reporters in Baghdad Tuesday that his election by the SIIC's Central Consultative Council was a great responsibility and that he will adopt an "openness policy" with Iraq's neighbors, Arab countries and other nations, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported.

The news agency said SIIC was formed by Iraqi opposition leaders in the 1980s when it was headed by Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim. After his 2003 death in a suicide attack in Najaf, he was succeeded by his brother, Abdulaziz al-Hakim, who died last week after a battle with lung cancer.

After his election, Ammar al-Hakim chaired a meeting attended by Iraqi Vice President and council member Adel Abdul Mahdi, Finance Minister Baqer al-Zubaidi and Bader Organization member of Parliament Hadi al- Aamri, KUNA said.