[Marxism] As Truce ends in Najaf, Al Sadr willing to Accept UN Force

[Federico Adrian Fuentes <fuentf01@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Radio Havana Cuba Aug 14


http://www.radiohc.cu/homeing.htm


As Truce ends in Najaf, Rebel Shi'ite Cleric is willing to Accept UN Force

Baghdad, August 14 (RHC)-Rebel Shi-ite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, said today
that he is willing to accept a United Nations force in Iraq. As peace talks
broke off in the holy city of Najaf, and the Iraqi interim government
announced renewed attacks there, Sadr said that he preferred UN troops to
the US-led occupation because Iraq is a member of the United Nations.

Last night the cleric had urged his supporters to the death despite a
tentative truce with the US military which had launched a week of relentless
attacks on rebels. Al-Sadr, who is holed up in the Imam Ali Shrine, said the
Iraqi people want the US-backed interim government to resign and he urged
his fighters to stand firm.

The cleric's arm was bandaged from wounds sustained earlier in the day. Also
on Friday, hundreds of Sadr's supporters marched past the previous American
frontline through the city, kissing and embracing fighters, until they
reached the golden-domed Imam Ali shrine that has been the focus of the
uprising.

According to a government spokesman, a tentative truce in place after nine
days of fighting ended with the announcement of renewed attacks on Najaf.

Last night the cleric had warned that the truce might be a "trick" and had
told his militia in other cities to continue their fight against the US-led
force. Thousands of people took to the streets of Baghdad and other cities
across the country, even in the Sunni heartland, yesterday to protest
against the attack on the holy city of Najaf.

Sadr has leveled a charge of murder linked to the killing of a moderate Shia
cleric in Najaf last year. The interim government has said that Sadr will
not be harmed if he abandons the holy city, but last night the cleric stated
that he will not leave.

The rebel army has nine demands, including the withdrawal of the US
military; an agreement to place Najaf under the control of the city's
clerics before the militia withdraws; the release of militia prisoners; an
amnesty for the fighters; and permission for al- Sadr's movement to take
part in next year's general elections.

UN Secretary General special envoy, Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, arrived in Baghdad
on Friday and immediately met with interim government Prime Minister Iyad
Allawi and President Ghazi al-Yawar.



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