A campaign against Iraq's Muqtada al-Sader
Iraq-USA, Politics, 10/17/2003

The American occupation forces started with the help of the Iraqi police yesterday a campaign aiming at challenging the influential Shiite clergy Muqtada al-Sader in a measure that will be conductive to detaining him.

The first step to this effect was manifested in the campaign to take control back of the headquarters of the municipal council in al-Sader city in Baghdad since one week. A US officer said "there is no problem in that, and we did that with the support of the Iraqi police. We escorted members of the municipal council to the building," where they restored back their offices. He did not explain if al-Sader men were in the building when the occupation forces restored it back.

An Iraqi police man said that the Iraqi and American security members arrested 12 members of "al-Mahdi army during this operation. He added that the Iraqi police is ready to release them in case al-Sader clergy representatives to the headquarters of the police and admit that the occupation of the municipality headquarters was a wrong act."

He explained "we want the Sheikhs to come here and apologize. we want them to tell their supporters to honor the police and then we will release the detainees."

Meantime, the Iraqi Interim Governing council condemned the city of Kerbala clashes between al-Sader members and al-Seistani associates. It said in a statement yesterday that the "governing council sees the current developments in Kerbala of opening fire, kidnapping citizens and occupying governmental buildings and mosques as rejected actions which is damaging to the security of the Iraqi citizens and the higher interests of our people amid these critical conditions."

Meantime, hundreds demonstrated yesterday in al-Najf for the second running day in support of Muqtada al-Sader. Sheikh Dia eddin al-Shuereifi, who is close to al-Sader said it "is a demonstration in support of the government announced by Muqtada al-Sader." The demonstrators chanted "No for the American occupation. No for the Interim Iraqi council which was formed by the Americans and yes, and yes for an Islamic state."

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