Mr. Maliki, a conservative Shiite, took office in May.

On Tuesday, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the prime minister and a conservative Shiite, scoffed at Mr. Khalilzad's remarks.

Mr. Daini grew animated when asked about Mr. Rubaie, a conservative Shiite.

The statement said the finance minister, Bayan Jabr, a conservative Shiite, had ordered an investigation after reading about the case in an article published in The Times on March 30.

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a conservative Shiite, condemned the raid in Basra.

They want Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a conservative Shiite, to make good on his promise to replace ineffective or corrupt ministers.

Mr. Maliki is a conservative Shiite, but is believed to be less closely allied to Iran than Mr. Hakim.

The parties realize that conservative Shiites have the best chance of dominating elections, given their zealous followings and access to pulpits in mosques.

He also has a powerful protector in Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, a conservative Shiite who gained the top job because of Mr. Sadr's support.

Some of the most respected and wealthiest merchant families on the Arab littoral are Shiites, politically conservative and among their governments' strongest supporters.