Al-Sader warns the occupation of a difficult test called 'the Shiite'

The prominent Shiite clergy in Iraq Muqtada al-Sader yesterday warned the American occupation of Iraq of a "difficult test called the Shiite." He renewed his assertion that al-Mahdi army which he had called for its formation in July is an "organization army and will not be armed" and its objective is to "protect Iraq and its religious leadership."

He, simultaneously unveiled that he had tried twice to meet with the Shiite prominent figure Ayatullah al-Seistani "but he refused facing me." The Iraqi independent daily al-Youm al-Akhar ( the other's day) quoted the son of the late Shiite leader Ayatullah Muhammad Sadeq al-Sader saying that "this army is an organizational army, rather than a military armed army. Its aim is to protect Iraq and its reference when necessary."

Replying to a question on whether the American forces cordoned his house actually in July, he said "actually the American forces cordoned my house but did not prevent me from going to people, and the reason for that is that I had formed al-Mahdi army." He added "but the ( Americans ) dispersed after they had realized the hard reality which says they will find themselves in front of a difficult test which is called 'the Shiite test'."

On his views on the transitional governing council in Iraq, al-Sader said "this governing council confirmed in actions that it is the best hireling for the Americans.. You people of the press know better than others that stability and services were more effective ( under the former regime). However, the arrival of this council to power contributed notable to the recession of services."