(English) Veteran Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi dies at 71

Chalabi, a leading voice behind the 2003 US invasion, died of a heart attack in his Kadhimiya residence in Baghdad.
Veteran Iraqi politician Ahmed Chalabi, a key player in the lead-up to the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, has died of a heart attack, local media reported.

Chalabi, the head of the Iraqi National Congress, died in his Kadhimiya residence in Baghdad. He was 71.

Born to an affluent Shia family in Baghdad, Chalabi was a long-time opposition figure dedicated to overthrowing the government of Saddam Hussein.

Having lived in exile for decades, Chalabi was a top proponent of the invasion to topple Saddam and provided false information indicating that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

Many in the Bush administration had viewed him as a favourite to lead Iraq after the 2003 intervention.

More to follow.