Iraq Cleric Urges Shiite Followers to End Clashes

[dotcoma]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor..._re_mi_ea/iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A radical Shiite cleric called on his followers Thursday to end clashes with Shiite rivals so that stalled talks on a new constitution can proceed. Fighting continued for a second day after the cleric's office in Najaf was burned and four of his supporters were killed. Following the appeal by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, leaders of the country's political factions met to try to reach an agreement on the draft constitution. Thursday was the final day of a 72-hour extension granted Monday night by parliament after Sunni Arabs blocked a vote on the charter, which was accepted by Shiite and Kurdish negotiators. After meeting with 15 Sunni members of the constitution drafting committee, Iraq's President Jalal Talabani said consensus on the new constitution could be reached soon. It was unclear whether parliament would meet Thursday to vote on the draft. Mahmoud Othman, a Kurdish member of the drafting committee, said lawmakers were supposed to meet later to ratify it. But Shiite representative Khaled al-Attiyah said there was not need to vote because "the job was done" when the draft was handed to parliament on Monday. Another Shiite, Nadim al-Jabiri, said there would be no vote on Thursday because the draft will be approved or rejected in a popular referendum on Oct. 15. In calling for calm, al-Sadr urged "all believers to spare the blood of the Muslims and to return to their homes."

Perhaps we will see more of this. I think if the opposition sees their governmental represenatives as viable tools of protest they will consolidate into this attempt at a republic/quasi-democracy..

[Sonart]

Quote by: dotcoma Perhaps we will see more of this. I think if the opposition sees their governmental represenatives as viable tools of protest they will consolidate into this attempt at a republic/quasi-democracy.

I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

August 25, 2005 -- BAGHDAD, Iraq--"Clashes erupted between rival Shiite groups across the Shiite-dominated south yesterday, threatening Iraq with yet another crisis.

The confrontation in at least five southern cities – involving a radical Shiite leader who led two uprisings against U.S. forces last year – followed the boldest assault by Sunni insurgents in weeks in the capital.

Trouble in the south began when supporters of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr tried to reopen his office in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, which was closed after the end of fighting there last year."--

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