Inter-Iraqi fighting in Kerbala; al-Sader will suppress any sedition with Seistani
Iraq, Politics, 10/15/2003

The influential Shiite clergy Muqtada al-Sader has recommended the American forces yesterday to draw a schedule for ending its occupation of Iraq, noting his goal to avoid any clash with the American forces, and stressing simultaneously his determination, together with the Shiite leaders to "suppress any sedition" attempt in al-Najaf and Karbela which witnessed on Monday evening clashes between his associated and the associates of the Shiite clergy Ali al-Seistani that resulted in killing one person and wounding other 24.

In a press conference in al-Najaf, al-Sader said that his "advise" to the American forces is to "schedule the timetable for its occupation to get out of Iraq very soon and during this period not to damage the Iraqis, and to give them full authority to choose their government, their political, social and security conditions." He added "I do not seek bloody clashes, and there might be revolution, but it will be a peaceful one."

Al-Sader accused the occupation forces of ignoring the views of the Iraqi people and besieging of certain areas, the same as happened today in besieging al-Sader city and the besiege of the holy governorate of Kerbala.

He indicated he intends to make al-Najaf the capital of Iraq in future, and this is to be after the consent of the Iraqi people, describing the city as "the genuine capital for Iraq." He stressed his rejection to the deployment of the Turkish forces in Iraq, considering the "there is no difference between the American forces and other occupation forces." He added "as Iraqis we refuse the deployment of all occupation forces being Turkish or not."

Meantime, the partisans of al-Sader and al-Seistani clashed on Monday evening in the city of Karbala in the first incident of its kind among the Shiite sects since the American occupation of Iraq.

Despite confirmation made by hospital officials of 24 wounded in the clashes, which erupted near Imam Hussein tomb and lasted for hours, one witness said that he saw 10 bodies.

The Iraqi police, US soldiers and a Bulgarian force deployed in the city in the context of a force led by Poland in the downtown of Baghdad that blocked the area surrounding the tomb and tried to calm the two warring sides.

The Iraqi police cordoned yesterday al-Sader office in al-Muqeim office and besieged 30 members of "al-Mahdi army" militias that is led by al-Sader. The besieged were prevented from approaching the mosque.

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