Baghdad  - Less than 48 hours before nationwide elections here, Nasir al-Saedy, one of the city's most popular Shiite clerics, disappointed the crowd of 20,000 Iraqis by keeping silent on the issue of election.

He said nothing about whether to vote or not. He made an elaborate speech on various subjects covering God's immense powers but spoke nothing about Sunday's elections. The people had come to Al Mohsen Mosque to listen to Nasir al-Saedy with high hopes that he would unfold his mind about the upcoming elections.

But contrary to the expectation of the people, Nasir ignored the issue of elections altogether. This has sent a wrong signal to the people of this community, whether to vote or not, whether to revolt or keep at home. Does it show that Nasir al-Saedy is afraid of some big attack by the insurgents?

The silence of Nasir would definitely affect the voters, no one knows which way the voters go, or what option they may choose? This has put President Bush in an awkward position.

According to  Dexter Filkins' article in New York Times appeared on 29 Jan., the Mainstream Shiite leaders believe that for some months Mr. Sadr has been playing a double game - backing political candidates on one hand, hinting at a boycott to his followers on the other - as part of a calculated strategy to maximize his political influence.

Until now, Iraq's mainstream Shiite leaders, who have been trying to coax Mr. Sadr and his vast following into the democratic process, had been hoping that he would finally tell his followers to give up their rebellion and turn to the ballot box.

His silence, and that of his supporters like Sheik Saedy, signals that he had decided to hedge his bets against the election. He wants the benefits of being part of the democratic process, while publicly denouncing it for the followers who do not subscribe to it.