On the last official day of campaigning before Sunday’s parliamentary election in Iraq, the supporters of Shiite religious parties came out in force, flocking to Friday prayer gatherings that became part religious service, part campaign rally. In Baghdad, tens of thousands of supporters of the United Iraqi Alliance, a coalition of Shiite parties, attended a service held by Ammar Hakim, the leader of the coalition. Mr. Hakim told the throngs that it was their religious duty to vote. “We don’t need a strong man,” Mr. Hakim said, clearly referring to Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, “We need thousands of strong men to form a just, honest and modest government.”  In recent weeks, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, a secular Shiite aligned with the most powerful Sunni blocs, has gained strength, according to surveys and interviews with voters. But the turnout at Friday prayers was a reminder that the real power of the Shiite parties remains in the streets.  As the rally ended, women in black chadors took to the streets carrying Iraqi flags; busloads of young men hung out of car windows cheering and waving and Iraqi police officers blared nationalist music from their vehicles. - New York Times