BAGHDAD (AFP) – Iraq’s supreme court yesterday ruled out a bid by veteran politician Hoshyar Zebari to run for president after a complaint filed against him over corruption charges.
Zebari, 68, who served as foreign minister for a decade after the 2003 United States (US)-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, was previously “suspended” from the race on February 6, on the eve of the scheduled date for a presidential vote in Parliament in which he was the favourite.
MPs submitted a complaint against Zebari before the supreme court, on the grounds that his participation would have been “unconstitutional” because of the outstanding corruption charges and on the basis of reputation.
“The federal court decided in its verdict to invalidate the candidacy of Hoshyar Zebari to the post of president of the republic,” state news agency INA announced.
