Abrogation of prayers for first time since the fall of Baghdad; al-Sader sets preconditions for recognizing the government
Iraq, Politics, 6/12/2004

Friday's prayers were abrogated at Imam Ali shrine in Najaf for the first time since the fall of Baghdad one year ago, at a time when the Shiite Clergy Muqtada al-Sader announced that he will only support the new Iraqi government if it calls for the end of occupation.

Sheikh Jaber al-Khafaji said in a sermon he delivered at Koufa mosque on behalf of al-Sader " I support the provisional government if it announces the futility of occupation and calls for its withdrawal." He also called on members of al-Mahdi army to obey instructions issued by the higher leadership represented in Muqtada al-Sader.

The spokesman for al- Sader, Qeis al-Khaz'ali considered that the Iraqi police in Najaf violated the agreement signed with " al-Mahdi army " when it opened fire at al-Sader house during Thursday's confrontation that resulted in killing 6 Iraqis and wounding other 29.

Witnesses said that Friday's prayers were abrogated at al-Imam Ali shrine after supporters of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader threw stones and shoes at members of the higher council who were preparing the platform for the prayers at the shrine.

Men of religion at the higher council called on the worshippers to leave al-Rawda al-Haidareyah, after this act " which is in contradiction of the Islamic morals," while Sheikh Ahmad al-Sheibani of al-Sade office in Najaf said that " ignorany people from the two sides provoked each other by chanting slogans."

Meantime, medical sources said that two children were killed and other 23 injured including two women in confrontations on Thursday evening between the American forces and members of "al-Mahdi army" in al-Sader city.

One official in al-Mahdi army said that these fighting where the American forces used helicopters planes, one of its members was killed and others injured.

However, Imam of Abu Haneifa mosque in Baghdad, Sheikh Ahmad al-Samerai strongly criticized the Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi considering that he had worked for the presence of the foreign forces in Iraq. He also, on the other hand, called old military men to join the " battle field."

Meanwhile, one American soldier died yesterday in Iraq because of wounds he had on Wednesday to the east of Baghdad after he was attacked at an occupation position and four American soldiers were injured. Three American soldiers were injured in a booby trapped car explosion when their procession was running in al-Sedeyah area to the south of Baghdad.

Meantime, the Washington Post yesterday said quoting guards who gave heir testimonies under oath that senior army officers of the American intelligence instructed guards o Abu Ghreib prison to use dogs in order to terrify the prisoners.

Previous Stories:
  Allawi denies withdrawal of the Kurds from his government   (6/11/2004)
  Baghdad: some 12,000 former Baathists return back to their works   (6/11/2004)
  Claims that Saddam Hussein was tortured   (6/10/2004)

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