- Title: IRAQ: NAJAF SHIITE LEADER PLANS TO ANNOUNCE NEW IRAQI GOVERNMENT
- Date: 14th October 2003
- Summary: (W5) NAJAF, IRAQ (OCTOBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. PAN OF OF PRESSER 0.07 2. MCU (Arabic) SHIA LEADER MUQTADA AL SADR SAYING: "My new government, it will be elected by the Iraqi people not like the governing council that was appointed by the Americans. There is another difference between my government and the governing council, which is controlled by the United States and occupying forces, my government is controlled by the Iraqi people and this is the difference between my government and the governing council." 0.42 3. SLV OF PRESSER 0.46 4. MCU (Arabic) SHIA LEADER MUQTADA AL SADR SAYING: "There will be clashes between the people and the occupying forces because these forces do not agree with my new government. The occupying forces will prevent people showing support for my government. So I advise these forces not to clash with the people and to give the people freedom in this country." 1.20 5. SV REPORTERS 1.25 6. MCU (Arabic) SHIA LEADER MUQTADA AL SADR SAYING: "The media said that some of my group want to occupy Al Hussein mosque and Al Abbas mosque in Kerbala, this is not correct, they are lying. My group did not clash with anyone and did not occupy any mosque." 1.49 7. SLV LEAVING PRESSER 1.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 29th October 2003 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA6PD84C2AGZPJOANKB8ZI8ZRIU
- Story Text: Najaf Shiite leader plans to announce new Iraqi
government.
Shiite cleric Muqtada Al Sadr announced on Tuesday
(October 14) plans to form his own Iraqi government,
independent from control of the United States.
"My new government, it will be elected by the Iraqi
people not like the governing council that was appointed by
the Americans. There is another difference between my
government and the governing council, which is controlled
by the United States and occupying forces. My government
is controlled by the Iraqi people and this is the
difference between my government and the governing
council," Muqtada Al Sadr said.
Addressing a news conference in the holy city of Najaf,
the cleric predicted conflict might occur during the
process to achieve what he claims would be a government
autonomous from the U.S led-occupying forces.
"There will be clashes between the people and the
occupying forces because these forces do not agree with my
new government. The occupying forces will prevent people
showing support for my government. So I advise these forces
not to clash with the people and to give the people freedom
in this country," Muqtada said.
The religious leader denied reports that some of his
followers wanted to take hold of Shiite shrines across
Iraq.
"The media said that some of my group want to occupy Al
Hussein mosque and Al Abbas mosque in Kerbala, this is not
correct, they are lying, my group did not clash with anyone
and did not occupy any mosque," added Muqtada.
Muqtada hopes to move forward with his plans to form a
new government to end what he sees as the U.S. occupation
of Iraq.
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