Getting your player ready...
BAGHDAD — An Iraqi panel issued a final ruling Thursday to bar two prominent Sunni politicians from running in next month’s elections, a move that is likely to raise tensions between the Shiite-led government and Sunnis who claim they are being politically undermined.
The back and forth over a decision to blacklist hundreds of candidates from the March 7 vote because of ties to Sad dam Hussein’s former Baath ist regime has threatened to mar the balloting process, which U.S. officials hope could be a milestone in reconciliation among Iraq’s rival religious groups.
