Iraqi President Jalal Talabani issued a statement mourning al-Hakim describing him as 'a brother, friend and... a hero fighting dictatorship, courageous in challenging it and a wise man in building new Iraq.'

A few days before his death, al-Hakim, who graduated from the renowned Hawza Shia theological school in Najaf, succeeded in forming the Iraqi National Alliance, a new Shia alliance that replaced the dispute-riven UIA, in preparation for January's general election.

The announcement on Monday came after three months of intensive discussions and meetings among Shia political powers led by al-Hakim.

'Al-Hakim was the basis for communication between the political powers and an element to ease the tensions,' Iraqi lawmaker Salim al-Jabouri said, mourning al-Hakim.

'We call on everyone to unite and come together ... because Iraq is one family and what affects one member of this family, affects the rest,' added al-Jabouri.

Al-Hakim, a habitual heavy-smoker, was first diagnosed with lung cancer in May 2007 at a Texas hospital. He was hospitalized in Tehran and then returned to Baghdad in the following October.

His son Mohsen al-Hakim told reporters that the family did not want any press coverage and wanted to mourn without any public attention.

However, it is expected that the Iranian government will hold a mourning ceremony for Hakim in the Tehran University Thursday, as he lived for around 20 years in Iran before returning to Iraq in 2003. The body will then be transferred to Najaf city, which is 180 km south of Baghdad.