- Title: IRAQ: REBEL SHI'ITE CLERIC VOWS TO CONTINUE WITH ANTI-U.S. RHETORIC.
- Date: 30th April 2004
- Summary: (W5) NAJAF, IRAQ (APRIL 30, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. GV: POLICE DIRECTING TRAFFIC 0.05 2. GV: PEOPLE WALKING IN MARKET PLACE; PEOPLE SHOPPING 0.10 3. GV: PEOPLE DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS (2 SHOTS) 0.23 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHEIKH QAIS AL-KHAZAILI, SAYING: "We as a trend and religious leadership like other religious authorities, we up to this moment prefer the political solution on other solutions but we are ready for any emergency. We are ready to defend holy places if anything happened." 0.45 5. GV/MV: PEOPLE PRAYING IN THE COURTYARD OF IMAM ALI HOLY SHRINE; PEOPLE LISTENING TO FRIDAY SERMON; PEOPLE PRAYING; WOMEN PRAYING (4 SHOTS) 1.11 6. VARIOUS: PROTESTERS CARRYING PICTURES OF SHI'ITE CLERICS MARCHING THROUGH NAJAF STREETS; PROTESTERS SHOUTING SLOGANS AGAINST U.S.-LED COALITION DECISION TO RETURN FORMER BAATHISTS TO THEIR JOBS; WOMEN PROTESTERS (8 SHOTS) 1.49 (W5) KUFA, IRAQ (APRIL 30, 2004) (REUTERS) 7. GV: EXTERIOR OF KUFA MOSQUE 1.55 8. GV: MEHDI ARMY MILITIA, CARRYING RPG (ROCKET PROPELLED GRENADE) LAUNCHERS AND RIFLES, STANDING GUARD AT GATE TO MOSQUE 2.03 9. GV: WORSHIPPERS INSIDE KUFA MOSQUE CHANTING IN SUPPORT FOR SHEIKH MOQTADA AL SADR, SADR AT PLATFORM 2.10 10. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SADR, SAYING: "Some people have asked me recently to tone down my words and to avoid escalation with the Americans. As they said the escalation of the tone makes things worse as it irritates the enemy and in consequence they would direct their anger on us." 2.29 11. PEOPLE CHANTING "MOQTADA" 2.33 12. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SADR, SAYING: "The west has portrayed Muslims and Arabs as its enemy. Just look as our country and to Palestine, Afghanistan and other countries on its (U.S.) black list and all the countries hit by wars and destruction." 3.06 13. GV: PEOPLE PRAYING 3.16 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 15th May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NAJAF AND KUFA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVAE0WDMMHQD5BU3H8QNP1VWTUGS
- Story Text: Shi'ite cleric Sadr tells worshippers that he will
not accept calls to tone down his anti-American rhetoric.
Life was normal in the streets of the holy city of
Najaf on Friday (April 30) as people went to pray at the
city's holy shrine of Imam Ali.
However, al-Mehdi Army, militia loyal to rebel Shi'ite
cleric Moqtada al-Sadr showed defiance, saying they are
ready to defend the city if the U.S. attack it.
"We as a trend and religious leadership like other
religious authorities, we up to this moment prefer the
political solution on other solutions but we are ready for
any emergency. We are ready to defend holy places if
anything happened," Sheikh Qais al Khazali said.
Outside the mosques, Najaf residents have marched
through the street in protest against the Coalition
Provisional Authority's intention to re-hire former members
of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party. The protesters said the
Baathist's hands were covered with the blood.
And in the Shi'ite city of Kufa, six miles from Najaf,
firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr told worshippers at Friday
prayers that he will not accept calls to tone down his
anti-American rhetoric.
"Some people have asked me recently to tone down my
words and to avoid escalation with the Americans. As they
said the escalation of the tone makes things worse as it
irritates the enemy and in consequence they would direct
their anger on us," Sadr said.
He said he rejected calls to pacify his words, saying
that America is the enemy of Islam and Muslims and that
jihad is the path of his ancestors.
"The west has portrayed Muslims and Arabs as its enemy.
Just look as our country and to Palestine, Afghanistan and
other countries on its (U.S.) black list and all the
countries hit by wars and destruction," Sadr said.
U.S. forces have surrounded Najaf, where Sadr has sought
refuge among shrines.
Tribal leaders and police are holding intensive talks in
the city aimed at reducing tensions and preventing an
American assault on the city, which is home to one of the
shrines holiest to Shi'ite Muslims.
Sadr, who has been holed up in Najaf for more than two
weeks now, slips out every Friday to Kufa Mosque where he
used to lead Friday prayers, denouncing the U.S. occupying
forces and U.S.-picked Governing Council
Thousands fill the vast open courtyard, chanting the
name of their hero when he strides through the gate. "No,
no to America! No, no to Israel! No, no to imperialism!"
they shout during his sermons.
U.S. authorities worry about how to handle the
militant cleric, his rising profile and his willingness to
flex the street muscle in Iraq's slums.
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