- Title: IRAQ: COALITION SPOKESMAN SAYS SHI'ITE LEADER MOQTADA AL-SADR REMAINS A TARGET
- Date: 17th April 2004
- Summary: (EU) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (APRIL 17,2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF THE NEWS CONFERENCE AND BRIGADIER GENERAL MARK KIMMITT AND DAN SENOR, CHIEF SPOKESMAN FOR THE U.S.-LED ADMINISTRATION, ENTERING PRESS ROOM 0.08 2. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAN SENOR SAYING: "The discussions initiated by individuals, organisations that approached us saying they want to see peaceful resolutions in Najaf. We too want to see peaceful resolution in Najaf. We too want to minimize bloodshed in Najaf. So we will communicate to anybody who wants to listen and anyone who wants to pass on a message what are basic principles are which are articulated in this forum before: We want the rule of law to prevail in Iraq. There is no room for illegal militias and violence. There is no room for individuals and organisations to just single-handedly, unilaterally, to decide to take over government buildings and properties. Those are the principles. We have communicated them. If individuals or groups we want to pass this on to others that is there prerogative. There is no direct track here that may have broken down because of the actions we take." 0.57 3. WIDE OF MEDIA 1.01 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL MARK KIMMITT SAYING: "Najaf is not the target. Moqtada al-Sadr remains the target. He can turn himself in on the bases of legitimate Iraqi warrant arrest to an Iraqi policeman where he can seek Iraqi justice. There is no conditionality in that. There is no aspect in that that requires violence. He has it within his hands to prevent violence." 1.32 5. CUTAWAY JOURNALISTS 1.38 6. PAN TO SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) KIMMITT SAYING: "After Falluja operation is complete we hope to get on with the process of turning Falluja into a model of what Iraq will look like. And I think we are very clear on how it looks like." 1.58 7. VARIOUS OF KIMMITT ALMOST FAINTING, HITTING MICROPHONE/BEING LED AWAY 2.35 8. WIDE OF PRESS CONFERENCE 2.39 8. PAN TO SCU KIMMITT SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS AFTER RETURNING 3.04 9. WIDE OF KIMMITT AND SENOR LEAVING 3.17 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 2nd May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA8PUI0Z2FGUVRYBW4225MR9SHF
- Story Text: Coalition spokesman say Shi'ite leader Moqtada
al-Sadr remains a target and demands his surrender.
A coalition spokesman said on Saturday (April 17)
that the rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr remains a
target and demanded his surrender.
"Moqtada al-Sadr remains the target. He can turn
himself in on the bases of legitimate Iraqi warrant arrest
to an Iraqi policeman where he can seek Iraqi justice,"
said Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt in a news briefing at
the coalition centre in Baghdad.
The spokesman Iraq's U.S. administrator Paul Bremer,
Dan Senor said that they want a "peaceful resolution" in
Najaf.
"We too want to minimize bloodshed in Najaf. So we will
communicate to anybody who wants to listen and anyone who
wants to pass on a message what are basic principles are
which are articulated in this forum before: We want the
rule of law to prevail in Iraq."
Senor said no negotiating track with Sadr existed, but
acknowledged contacts with various intermediaries.
Defiant Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr is holed up in the holy
city
of Najaf with 2,500 U.S. soldiers poised
outside vowing to kill or capture him.
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