Tensions between Iraq and Tehran due to killing of al-Gharavi
Iraq-Iran, Politics, 6/23/1998

The Iranian Foreign Ministry summoned the Iraqi charge d'affairs in Tehran, asking him for clarification about the assassination of Shiite cleric Sheikh Mirza Ali al-Gharavi al-Tabrigzi in Iraq on Saturday.

The Supreme Assembly of Islamic Revolution in Iraq issued a statement reported by the Iranian news agency, IRNA, which accused Iraq's government of being behind this incident. The group, with its headquarters in Tehran, is the main Shiite opposition movement against the Iraqi authorities.

The statement said that Iraqi intelligence forces fired on and killed al-Gharavi, his son, son-in-law and driver after their car stopped while returning from Karbala to Najaf.

The statement added that the ruling Baath party in Baghdad buried the corpse immediately and secretly in order to avoid any protests and that demonstrations took place in Karbala following the killing, but the Iraqi government tried to suppress the protests.

Meanwhile the Higher Shiite Islamic Council in Lebanon called for a conference to examine the serious situation to which the Islamic Sheikhs are facing in the Iraqi city of Najaf where another Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Morteza Boroujerdi, was killied in April.

IRNA reported on Sunday that Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Iraq's government "to realize its responsibility towards such a tragic incident and undertake its islamic, humanitarian and international duties in dealing with two incidents and relieve (the) Iranian nation, the Shi'ites and all Muslims concerned."

Relations between Iraq and Iran have been facing ups and downs as the two states try to improve bilateral ties. The Iranian ambassador to the UN said several days ago that Iran wants to improve relations with Iraq but that there are still outstanding problems that relate to prisoners of war and travel restrictions to religious sites.

Previous Stories:
  Shiite clegryman's killing in Iraq angers Iran   (4/23/1998)

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