IRAQ: REBEL SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR REJECTS NEW INTERIM GOVERNMENT BUT AGREES TO SHORE UP TRUCE WITH UNITED STATES FORCES
Record ID:
648155
IRAQ: REBEL SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR REJECTS NEW INTERIM GOVERNMENT BUT AGREES TO SHORE UP TRUCE WITH UNITED STATES FORCES
- Title: IRAQ: REBEL SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR REJECTS NEW INTERIM GOVERNMENT BUT AGREES TO SHORE UP TRUCE WITH UNITED STATES FORCES
- Date: 5th June 2004
- Summary: (EUROPE) NAJAF, IRAQ (JUNE 3, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV MEETING WITH MOQTADA SADR AND FORMER GOVERNING COUNCIL MEMBER AHMED CHALABI 2. AIDES SITTING 3. CHALABI AND SADR SITTING ON NEIGHBOURING SOFAS 4. MORE OF THE AIDES 5. MORE OF CHALABI AND SADR SITTING 1.02 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th June 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAA5KFEIGQ8WVGUUJAYCL84566G
- Story Text: Rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rejected Iraq's
new interim government on Friday but agreed to shore up a
shaky truce with American forces
Rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rejected
Iraq's new interim government on Friday (June 4, 2004) but
agreed to shore up a shaky truce with American forces after
weeks of clashes.
Sadr's men have fought fierce battles with U.S. troops
in and around the holy city of Najaf, but the area was
quiet for the first time in days on Friday after Shi'ite
leaders helped broker a fresh truce attempt with former
Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi on Thursday evening
(June 3).
A new interim government was appointed by the United
Nations on Tuesday after consultation with the U.S.-led
administration
and Iraqi leaders, and is due to take over from U.S.
occupiers on June 30.
Rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr met with Ahmed
Chalabi, who has fallen out of favour with the United
States over recent allegations he passed on sensitive
information to Iran, do discuss a pull out of Sadr's Mehdi
militia from the holy Iraqi of Najaf on Friday (June 3).
Sadr's representative in Kufa during Friday (June 4)
prayers said that he wanted nothing to do with the new
Iraqi government. He said no Iraqi would accept the state
of occupation which the government had accepted and called
for complete independence from the coalition forcess.
Sadr also called for elections to determine the
country's next government. Under current plans, polls
planned for January will elect members of a transitional
government that will draft a new constitution. More polls
will then choose a constitutionally elected government,
perhaps in early 2006.
Shi'ite politicians said earlier on Friday that Sadr
had agreed to withdraw his fighters from the city of Najaf
within two days, as long as U.S. forces also withdrew.
Sadr also proposed that neutral observers monitor the
truce, the Shi'ite politicians said after hours of talks
with the firebrand preacher in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles)
south of Baghdad.
A truce attempt last week failed to take hold and there
have been frequent skirmishes around Najaf.
On Thursday afternoon, gunfire and explosions erupted
in Najaf when two U.S. tanks advanced towards the cemetery,
where some militia fighters are still dug in, witnesses
said. There was an exchange of fire for around half an
hour, and the tanks later withdrew.
Iraq's top Shi'ite religious leaders have been highly
critical of Sadr for fighting in holy cities -- but have
also said the U.S. military response was heavy-handed.
Washington is keen to secure a truce before the June 30
handover of power.
Among those mediating has been Ahmad Chalabi, a wealthy
former exile who has fallen out of favour with Washington.
Once seen as the U.S. choice to lead Iraq, but lacking any clear
el
ectoral base, he has become sharply critical of
U.S. policy and appears to be trying to establish himself
as a leader of his fellow Shi'ites inside the country.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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