Calls to postpone Iraqi elections; trials of Saddam, aides

Concerning the file of trying members of the toppled Iraqi regime, the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader called on Friday's sermon for attending the trial of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his aides, considering that as a legitimate and legal rights.

In a statement, al-Sader called each of Israel, the USA and Britain of being behind the bloody attacks against Najaf and Karbala city last Sunday which resulted in killing 66 civilians and injuring other 200, noting that "these terrorist countries want to set the fire of sedition so as to get themselves out of their dilemma."

Concerning the elections, several Imams of Sunni mosques in Baghdad called in their Friday sermons for postponing the legislative elections set by the end of next month.

Imam and preacher of Um al-Qura mosque, Ahmad Abdul Ghafour al-Samera, said that these "elections can not be made at the meantime and we call for postponing them and changing its mechanism." In his sermon, the Imam of Abi Hanifa mosque, Sheikh Ahmad Hassan al-Taha, called for postponing the elections which he described as ridiculous.

This, however, is made while many of Falluja citizen started to return back to their city to inspect their houses and find out if they can return back. The people faced large scale inspection operations on the outskirts of the city carried out by the American forces and members of the Iraqi national guards. N.