Support for firebrand cleric
2004-04-07 21:12
Baghdad - Many of Baghdad's Shiite and Sunni Muslims on Wednesday rallied behind embattled firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr whose banned militia is facing a nationwide assault by US-led coalition forces.
Sadr, who is subject to an arrest warrant in connection with the murder of a rival Shiite cleric last year, meanwhile called for power in Iraq to be handed over to "honest men" and not to collaborators of the US-led occupation.
In a statement issued in the holy city of Najaf, the cleric urged "American people to take sides with the Iraqi people, oppressed by (US) leaders and the occupation army, to help them so that power is transferred to honest Iraqis."
He also called on neighbouring Kuwait to end the US military presence at bases within the emirate.
"I call on our neighbour Kuwait to request that American bases leave its territory and that it stands by our side to get rid of the great Satan in Iraq," he said.
Meanwhile, two-pronged US assaults on Sunni and Shiite rebels appear to be bringing rival Sunni and Shiite communities closer together.
The committee of Sunni Muslim ulemas (clerics) on Wednesday called for a nationwide strike until coalition forces lift their siege in the restive Sunni town of Fallujah and other cities.
The committee, one of the representative organs of Iraq's Sunni Muslims, also called for a boycott of US and British products.
It also announced that the Sunni ulemas were suspending all contacts with the United Nations as long as the world body does not clearly condemn US military operations in Fallujah and elsewhere.
"We are suspending all contacts and all meetings with the United Nations as long as the international organization does not clearly condemn the military operations targeting the Iraqi people in many cities," committee secretary general Hareth Dari told a news conference.
UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has been in Baghdad since Sunday to discuss plans by the US-led coalition to hand over power to the Iraqis on June 30.
America 'the enemy of the people
In Baghdad's northwestern Kadhimiya district, dozens of young Iraqis flocked to Sadr's local headquarters to proclaim their allegiance to the radical cleric and express their readiness to die for him.
"America is the enemy of the people. For us Muslims, Sunnis or Shiites, martyrdom is our way," said Salah Noama al-Aanazi.
Dozens of youths also congregated in a local Shiite mosque where a Sadr aide, Sheikh Hazem al-Aaraji, is based.
"The entire population of Kazimiya is with us. We have moved from self-defense to civil disobedience. All government offices and schools are closed. Only shops are still open," said Aaraji.
"Moqtada is a good man and not an outlaw. Americans see all those who are against them as terrorists. Negotiation is pointless," said Taleb Mohammad, a 22-year-old student.
"It's Americans who attack us. We are within our right," said Usama Khairi.
In Sadr City, Baghdad's impoverished Shiite suburb, 250 people held a funeral service for one of 12 civilians killed during overnight clashes between US forces and Sadr's banned Mehdi Army militia, according to hospital sources.
At least 69 people have been killed and 272 others wounded in Sadr City since the US army launched an offensive to protests by Sadr's militiamen on Sunday, according to hospital sources.
Throughout the country, at least 126 Iraqis and 15 Americans have been killed, as well as more than 550 wounded since clashes between US forces and Sadr militiamen erupted on Sunday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the US-led coalition said it intended to "destroy the Mehdi".