For future reference #1

Courtesy of CNN, some quickie descriptions of some of the leading names in Iraqi's politics

Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani - Backer, United Iraqi Alliance
Although not on the ballot as a candidate, the influential Shiite cleric backs the United Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite-dominated coalition of political parties and individuals. He has called voting in the election "a religious duty."

Adil Abdel-Mahdi - Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq
A Shiite and the finance minister in the Iraqi interim government, Abdel-Mahdi is a trained economist who, after being stripped of his job, left Iraq in 1969 for exile in France, where he worked for several French think tanks, and edited magazines in French and Arabic.

Ahmed Chalabi - Iraqi National Congress
Chalabi is a secular Shiite and founder of the Iraqi National Congress, which comprises exiles, Kurds and Shiites. He was a key U.S. ally before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but fell out of favor when his intelligence about weapons of mass destruction failed to pan out.

Ibrahim Jafari Al-Eshaiker - Dawa Party
Al-Eshaiker, a Shiite Muslim, is one of two vice presidents in the Iraqi interim government. He is a member of the Dawa movement, which seeks to modernize Iraq's religious institutions.

Hussain Al-Shahristani - United Iraqi Alliance
Al-Shahristani is a nuclear scientist who was one of six people chosen by the Grand Ayatollah al-Sistani to compile a list of candidates for the United Iraqi Alliance.

Abdel-Aziz Al-Hakim - Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq
Al-Hakim, a Shiite, was a member of the disbanded Iraqi Governing Council. He is the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Adnan Pachachi - Independent Democratic Gathering
Pachachi is a secular Sunni Muslim who had belonged to the disbanded Iraqi Governing Council. He was a foreign minister of the government deposed by Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in 1968.

Jalal Talabani - Patriotic Union of Kurdistan
Talibani is a Sunni Kurd and the founder and leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, one of two main northern Kurdish parties that have joined to present a list of candidates for the election.

Massoun Barzani - Kurdistan Democratic Party
Barzani, an ethnic Kurd and Sunni Muslim, was a member of the former Iraqi Governing Council. He is a leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, one of two key northern Kurdish parties that have joined to present a list of candidates for the election.

Ayad Allawi - Iraqi National Accord
Allawi, a Shiite Muslim, is the prime minister of the interim Iraqi government. He is a former Baath Party member who was on the disbanded Iraqi Governing Council.

Hamid Majid Moussa - Iraqi Communist Party
Moussa, a Shiite Muslim, was on the former Iraqi Governing Council and leads the Iraqi Communist Party. He draws support from urban Shiites and Kurds.

Naseer Al-Chaderchi - National DemocraticParty
Al-Chaderchi, a Sunni Muslim, was a member of the Iraqi Governing Council and is the leader of the National Democratic Party.

Sheik Ghazi Al-Yawar - The Iraqis Party
Al-Yawar, a Sunni Muslim, is the president of the interim Iraqi government and was on the Iraqi Governing Council. He is the leader of a prominent Sunni tribe in northern Iraq.