Iraq's Political Party System Aligns with Religious Sects: Sunnis and Shiites

This description of Sunnis and Shiites describes the two major sects of Islam. There are further shades of distinction beyond the high level schism, but the major split, which goes back to Mohammed's original historical successors, is interesting to note.

Iraq's first (in 50 years) democratic election results were announced today. The elections, voters, candidates and, by deduction, their Parliament, aligned with Islamic religious sects. At least that is how the TV news described it. Could there be economic causes for these political divisions? Are the election results caused by or only correlated with religious affiliation?

We are spectators of a historical experimental hybrid of democracy and religion in Iraq.