BAGHDAD: 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.

Hailed as the “people’s actor” in Iraq, Jumaili had been living in exile in Damascus to where much of the country’s film and television industry relocated after the US-led invasion in 2003. He most recently played ‘The Leader’ in the political comedy ‘Anba al-Watan’ on Dubai-based Al-Sharqiya satellite channel, which became the most watched show during Ramazan.

In what was clearly a take-off of Talabani, the satirical show featured Jumaili as the political leader of an Arab country not too dissimilar to Iraq. In one episode ‘The Leader’ divides up his country and sends his troops — dressed remarkably like Iraqi security guards — to shoot up towns and cities.—AFP