One seat in the election is reserved for Assyrian Christians [1] Basra is the main oil-producing and transit centre in Iraq, which has led to intense competition over control of its Governorate.

Following the Battle of Basra in 2008, the central government seized control of the city's streets from the Sadrist Movement and the security situation improved.

[2] The central government has organized "Local Support Committee" militias, has spent $100 million in reconstruction projects and has started paying unemployment benefits in the province.

[2] In a move away from their traditional apolitical stance, a list with a core support from the Shaykhiya religious community stood for the first time.

[4] The Sadrist movement opposed the move, saying it was "playing with fire" as did the Islamic Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.