Iranians are predominately Shiites while Syria's ruling elite is most Alawite, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.
The problem in Iraq is that 60% of the population consists of Shiite Muslims.
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Al-Sadr's chief Shiite political rival, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, said that only Iraqis should control Iraq.
Rogue elements of the Mahdi Army are ignoring Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's seven-month-old ceasefire order.
In the south, Shiite rebels controlled major cities such as Karbala, Najaf, and Basra.
They all belonged to Alevis, a Turkish and Kurdish-speaking Shiite offshoot who vastly outnumber Arabic-speaking Alawis.
There is also an attempt among other Shiite politicians to isolate Sadr, despite Maliki's support.
Their Shiite neighbors were simply too frightened to do anything to protect their Sunni friends.
It's the site of the Imam Hussein shrine, one of Shiite Islam's holiest locations.
At the same time, Iraqi officials said they'll investigate Shiite-led militias operated by the Interior Ministry.
Al-Sadr made his offer in a letter to Najaf's Shiite clerical hierarchy, according to al-Rubaie.
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Al-Rubaie, a Shiite, said the proposal was "a very, very good basis" for negotiations.
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Sectarian strife also continues to plague the country, where Shiite Muslims dominate the central government.
It's home to a volatile mixture of Sunni Muslims, Shiite Muslims, Sunni Kurds, even Christians.
Mr. ABU KAREEM (Shiite Tribal Leader): (Through translator) An army major came to the funeral.
The van full of released Shiite prisoners drove away peacefully back to its village.
Sunni Arab and Shiite tribal leaders were attending the meeting, backed by the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government.
Not all Shiite militants involved in the Sadr City fighting are members of al-Sadr's Mehdi army.
Shiite leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani says only government forces should be allowed to carry weapons.
The town has experienced previous clashes between the Sunni and Shiite communities that live there.
The people who supported Ali became known as the partisans of Ali or the Shiite Ali.
The local police chief said the attack didn't appear to be aimed at Shiite worshippers.
He removes his distinctive turban, which marks him as a Shiite cleric, whenever he goes outside.
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Three major groups have watched each other suspiciously: Sunni Arabs, Shiite Arabs and Kurds.
NPR: Violence Plagues Iraq, Despite Constitution Breakthrough
Sunni and Shiite, black and white, Arab and non-Arab wending their way to the desert.
Tehran claims the 48 Iranians were Shiite pilgrims visiting a holy site in the Syrian capital.
Sunnis largely boycotted Iraq's 2005 elections, leading to the emergence of a Shiite-led government.
CNN: Clashes erupt at Iraqi protest as sectarian tensions flare
Lawmakers loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and others had been staunch opponents of the security pact.
Al-Maliki's trip follows the visit to Iran last week of Adel Abdul Mahdi, Iraq's Shiite vice president.
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