] As the heir to one of the most important dynasties in the
] Shiite world, al-Hakim is mindful that the actions of
] Iraqi Shiites could have an impact on the entire Shiite
] community. "He realizes that if Shiites in Iraq are
] perceived as cooperating with an invasion force, it could
] have repercussions throughout the Muslim world for years
] to come," said a senior al-Hakim adviser, who asked not
] to be named.
]
] Shiites comprise about 20 percent of the 1 billion
] Muslims in the world. While the majority of Muslims
] worldwide are Sunnis, Shiites constitute a majority in
] several countries, including Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and
] Bahrain. Other Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia,
] have sizable Shiite minorities that are marginalized.

A Delicate Balancing Act Between Shiite and Sunni Muslims