The BBC has an interesting analysis of the election campaign in Iraq, under a startlingly tasteless title: “Rocketing the Vote.” This passage was remarkable:
Abdul Aziz took his place, and he is now the top candidate on the unified list of Shia factions contesting these elections.
On his tables, are bouquets of flowers from the well-wishers who came to congratulate him on surviving the bomb attack.
I noticed with a shock, that one of them is signed by the Governor of Baghdad, Ali al-Haidri.
By now, he himself was dead. Two days after his visit with the flowers, he was ambushed and killed on his way to work.
Juan Cole has also been posting updates on Iraqi electoral issues.