Iraqi Shiite politician Bahr al-Ulloum dies at 88

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Prominent Shiite politician Mohammed Bahr al-Ulloum, one of the leaders of the presidential council of the now defunct Iraqi National Congress, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88.

A moderate Shiite cleric, Bahr al-Ulloum represented the Shiite in the Iraqi National Congress, a coalition of Iraqi groups opposed to former dictator Saddam Hussein that was formed with the aid and direction of the United Sates following the Gulf War in 1991.

Along with Masoud Barzani, the current president of the Kurdistan region, and Hasan Naqib, a Sunni military leader, Bahr al-Ulloum was the third member of the congressional leadership.

Bahr al-Ulloum passed away in hospital in the Iraqi city of Najaf, according to his son, Ibrahim Bahr al-Ulloum, who confirmed the death on Tuesday.