Iraqi Shi'ite leader in US for cancer treatment
WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of Iraq's biggest Shi'ite Party, is in the United States for lung cancer treatment, The Washington Post said today.
Hakim arrived in Houston on Thursday to meet with specialists at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre, the paper said, citing US officials.
''US officials said the cleric, 57, has been found to have lung cancer,'' it said.
Hakim heads the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, which is the biggest party in Iraq's Shi'ite-dominated government. He met with US President George W. Bush in the White House in December.
Hakim's party was founded in Iran and he lived there for years before the 2003 US-led invasion toppled President Saddam Hussein.
In Crawford, Texas, White House spokesman Tony Fratto said the US government provided transportation for Hakim to get to the United States for medical assistance. He had no details on Hakim's condition or where he was being examined.
''I
can
confirm
that
the
administration
gave
assistance
to
al-Hakim
to
get
there,''
Fratto
said.
''We
fully
expect
to
work
with
al-Hakim
and
his
party
in
the
future.''
The
Post
said
''Vice
President
Dick
Cheney
played
a
role
in
arranging
for
Hakim
to
see
US
military
doctors
in
Baghdad,
who
made
the
original
diagnosis,
and
for
the
current
medical
treatment
in
Houston.''
Reuters
NC
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