Sunni leaders, and even some secular Shiites, continued to oppose it, saying that it could fatally weaken the nation.

Sunnis, and some secular Shiites, have threatened to boycott the new government.

A secular Shiite and liberal, she was once very gregarious.

He is a secular Shiite, in a country where religion plays an ever greater role.

But as a secular Shiite, his political career is fraught with risks.

Many secular Shiites became members of the Baath Party.

Better yet, he's a secular Shiite, so the Kurds- and maybe even the Sunnis- might find him palatable.

Both were secular Shiites who lived close to each other, made lots of money and enjoyed the privileges of belonging to the upper crust.

Dr. Alawi, a secular Shiite, emerged as the top candidate when he gathered the support of some of the country's most powerful political parties.

Sunni leaders and the secular Shiites say they are concerned that such a huge and powerful autonomous region could lead to the breakup of the country.