Iraq Declares Cease-Fire as Sistani Reaches Najaf

[cal04]

Iraq's leading Shiite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, reached Najaf today as the government declared a cease-fire in the city after three weeks of clashes with militiamen, officials in Najaf said. Al-Sistani reached the outskirts of the city at about 3 p.m. local time, Jaffar Bassam, a spokesman for his liaison office in London said in a telephone interview while speaking on another line to the cleric's representative, Murtadha al-Kashmiri, in Najaf. The Grand Ayatollah spent about three weeks in London for heart treatment, his office's Web site said.

Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition forces have fought militiamen loyal to another cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, for three weeks. Violence in Najaf and mortar attacks in nearby Kufa claimed at least 80 lives and injured 376 people since 9 a.m. yesterday, Health Ministry spokesman Saad al-Amily said in a telephone interview from Baghdad.

Najaf's governor, Adnan al-Zurufi, said at a televised press conference that Iraqi forces will halt military action in the city to allow for al-Sistani's return. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said in a statement that the cease-fire started at 3 p.m. local time, Agence France-Presse reported. Allawi said al-Sadr, a Shiite Muslim, will be given ``safe passage'' if the fighting in Najaf stops, AFP reported.

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=alJHHOIh2R68&refer=home



US to abide by cleric's ceasefire
From correspondents in Baghdad


THE US-led coalition forces will abide by a 24-hour cease-fire called by the Iraqi government in a bid to promote a Najaf peace effort from Iraq's top Shiite cleric, a US military spokesman said today.Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani "is working toward a peaceful solution to hostilities in Najaf", said US Rear Admiral Gregory J Slavonic. "Coalition forces will support Sistani's effort to return the city to the citizens of Najaf".Interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi declared a 24-hour ceasefire in Najaf from the time of Sistani's arrival this afternoon "to confirm our commitment to peace".

Sistani, who returned from London yesterday armed with a peace initiative, is calling for Najaf and Kufa to be declared weapons-free cities, for all foreign forces to withdraw from Najaf and leave security to the police, and for the government to compensate those harmed by the fighting here.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,10582535%255E1702,00.html

[annabanana]

1. ...holding our breath....

:thumbsdown: :thumbsup: ?

[Jacobin]

2. Graphically demonstrates that Allawi is not in control

We'll see if Sistani can control the Sadr group which is more militant about ejecting the occupiers.

[cal04]

3. Just read that 10 people were killed in an attack on his

supporters. This is a cease fire?

[spinbaby]

5. Aljazeerah is reporting this

The breaking news banner on their home page says at least 10 killed.

http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage

[cal04]

7. ABC online news is now reporting it

22 killed as Sistani, Sadr supporters fired on

Supporters of Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, have been fired upon in the town of Kufa and 20 people have been killed.It is unclear who opened fire.

In a separate incident, supporters of rebel Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have been attacked as they marched from the town of Kufa to the city of Najaf.The national guard opened fire as thousands of people chanting their solidarity with Sadr and denouncing Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, passed a military base.Medics say two bodies have been taken to a hospital in Hilla, 50 kilometres to the north, along with 23 wounded from the shoot-out.

Both Ayatollah Sistani and Sadr have called on their supporters to converge on Najaf, where Sadr's militia have been holed up in a mosque for three weeks.Ayatollah Sistani is travelling to Najaf in a bid to broker an end to the violence.A senior aide travelling with Ayatollah Sistani on the lengthy journey from the southern city of Basra says the 73-year-old Iranian-born cleric would not delay his trip despite the Kufa bloodshed."We are making our way. The crowds surrounding us are huge," aide Hamed al-Khafaf said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1186067.htm

[spinbaby]

8. The Kufa incident was different

This one seems to have just happened in Najaf but only Aljazeerah is reporting it.

[allemand]

12. 74 people killed and more than 350 wounded in Kufa

"Meanwhile, the Health Ministry says 74 people were killed and more than 350 wounded in a mortar attack on Kufa's mosque and the shooting of demonstrators on the road to Kufa.

"The Najaf hospital received 39 bodies and 255 wounded and the one in Kufa 25 bodies and 60 wounded," a Ministry official said.

The bodies of another eight people killed in the demonstration and 42 wounded people were transported to Diwaniya, about 50 kilometres east of Najaf."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200408/s1186114.htm

[cal04]

16. I think this is the story they were reporting on Al Jazeerah

Ten people were killed, according to Najaf hospital officials, when Iraqi forces trying to prevent people from making their way to Najaf's Old City, where the Imam Ali shrine is located, opened fire over the heads of people. The crowd stampeded, with people bleeding and helping the wounded away from the violence.

A supporter of Ayatollah Sistani from Baghdad, Hazim Kareem, said he was among marchers trying to get through an Iraqi police blockade set up to stop vehicles and people.

"You know how religious we are, we kept trying," said Mr. Kareem. "Some armed men appeared and entered our crowd. I don't know who they were. They fired at the police."Then the police went crazy and just started shooting everywhere," he said. "I saw two dead policemen."

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/international/middleeast/26CND-IRAQ.html?hp

[thebigidea]

4. gee, what happened to all those final ultimatums?

For a supposed "strongman," Allawi isn't doing so great.

[0007]

13. How dare this cretin???

"Allawi said al-Sadr, a Shiite Muslim, will be given ``safe passage'' if the fighting in Najaf stops" -

Will the time come that al-Sadr tells Allawi that "safe passage" will be given if he leaves Iraq NOW?

Bring the troops home now!

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Correction (the headline is misleading)

Iraq The US-sponsored interim government of Iraq declares cease-fire as Sistani reaches Najaf.

[tlcandie]

9. He wants occupation troops to leave Najaf....

Don't think that will happen. So what will he do when they don't listen to his demands?

From the Aljazeera link...

<snip>
After talks with government ministers in Basra late on Wednesday, an al-Sistani aide said the Ayat Allah wanted occupation troops to leave Najaf, Iraqi police to take responsibility for security and the government to pay compensation to those who have suffered in the fighting.
<snip>

[Tatiana]

10. This may be a deal brokered between the governor of Najaf and the UK

http://www.juancole.com/2004_08_01_juancole_archive.html#109346534326005705

We have so botched this INVASION, it's pathetic. It looks like the British (no doubt a result of the pressure being applied to Tony Blair as a result of anti-war sentiment in Britain) are trying to work something out to bring a peaceful, or at the very least workable solution. Sistani refused to fly into American-controlled Bagdad, which is very telling to me. He flew into Kuwait and drove overland in a convoy of SUVs from Basra (through the areas secured by British forces). The governor of Najaf also seems to be less than enthralled with the Americans and more loyal to Sistani.

This could turn even UGLIER depending on if Sistani really does lead a peaceful march on Najaf to expel the Americans.

[truthspeaker]

11. here's a peace deal proposal:

Sadr's militia disbands, contigent on foreign troops leaving Iraq.

Two problems solved.

[Beetwasher]

14. WTF??? Fierce violence as al-Sistani arrives in Najaf (MSNBC)

NAJAF, Iraq - Iraq’s top Shiite cleric made a dramatic return to Najaf at the head of a massive convoy hoping to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city, but a spate of violent incidents — including a series of attacks that killed scores of his supporters on Thursday — could undermine the peace mission.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5685031/

[Kagemusha]

15. And undermining the peace mission is what is desired.

Do you really think the Iraqi secular forces want Sistani to "save" the shrine for all humanity like Ghandi here?

[PATRICK]

17. Ghandi

Expect losses of life on these brokered "peace" missions. If they commit violence, they can lose big time, but it will take great massive courage.

Meanwhile just what will the US troops do when surrounded to the pint of immobility by countless citizens? No one is thinking how the shoe could really be on the other foot.

Do you think the Shia are just going to go home and say "OK, you can start shooting again."

Al Sistani was obviously gathering his mind and health for this great action.