Arab Christian and Islamic Clerics Seek to Head off Sectarian Conflict

[Dancing_Dave]

"Clerics urge action


BEIRUT: Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani and Higher Shiite Council Vice-President Sheikh Abdel-Amir Qabalan urged Islamic and Christian leaders in Iraq and other Arab countries to confront Israeli attempts to stir sectarian strife with solidarity and awareness.

A statement issued after an extraordinary meeting on Monday between Qabalan and Qabbani condemned the attacks against churches in Iraq.

The meeting was attended by the secretary-general of the Islamic Spiritual Summit, Mohammed Sammak, and Higher Shiite Council adviser Nazih Jammoul.

The statement urged the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to swiftly take the initiative to end the bloodshed in Najaf and other Iraqi cities and protect holy Islamic sites from any violation.

Qabbani and Qabalan also stressed the need for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq."

This has just been published at http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=7649

These Lebanese Christian and Islamic spiritual figures are also known and respected among Christian and Islamic people in Iraq (and Syria, Palestine, etc.)

Nobody can solve a problem that they don't understand.