Sadr's political clout said to be waning

BAGHDAD, June 17 (UPI) -- A decision by the party of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr not to participate in provincial elections is a sign of its diminished influence, a rival lawmaker said.

Jalal Eddine Assaghir of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council told the Al-Hayat newspaper the decision by the Sadrist Movement not to add its names to the electoral list is a sign of its increasing political isolation.

The Shiite lawmaker also noted any decision by the Sadrist Movement to enter the political contest may undermine the electoral process due to the threat of violence, al-Sumaria said Tuesday.

Sadrist spokesman Salah al-Ubaidi said, however, the party had nothing to lose if it didn't formally submit a list of party candidates, noting the electoral law permits open lists.

Iraqi is scheduled to hold provincial elections in October.

Meanwhile, Sadrist lawmaker Aqeel Abdul-Hussein said considerations from Washington to bring U.S. troop levels back to pre-surge levels was a political move, Voices of Iraq said.

"The U.S. president's motivations are not in Iraq's interests, but because of the U.S. public pressure that condemns the U.S. army's casualties," he said, adding, "I do not believe that there will be a real pullout from Iraq, but only symbolic and for media consumption."