Talabani mourns the Iraqi actor who lampooned him

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq's President Jalal Talabani is lamenting the death of popular Iraqi actor Rasim al-Jumaili who lampooned him wickedly in a television series, and offered to pay the funeral expenses, a statement said.

Jumaili, who bore a striking resemblance to the portly Talabani, died in Damascus on Saturday aged 69 after suddenly losing consciousness two days earlier.

"President Talabani has sent a message of condolence to the family of the late actor and offered to pay the expenses of transporting his body to Baghdad, as well as the burial costs," Talabani's office said in a statement issued late on Saturday.

He praised Jumaili as one of the pillars of Iraqi art for more than 50 years, saying he made "a deep impact in Iraqi theatre, cinema and television."

The head of the Iraqi Actors' Association, Hussein al-Basri, said Jumaili died of a blood infection. ...