Sistani tells armed groups to leave holy cities, calls people to flay attacks

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Iraq's Ayatullah Ali Al-Husseini As-Sistani has demanded on Tuesday that all armed groups- US-led coalition forces and Moqtada As-Sadr’s militia - withdraw from the embattled holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where nine militiamen were killed in heavy fighting with American forces earlier in the day.

In a rare statement issued from his Najaf office, Ayatullah As-Sistani urged Iraqis not to travel to the city to join in protests.

As-Sadr had called people to come to the holy cities to join demonstrations to save these cities from US occupation forces. The US military says militiamen have used some Muslim holy places as firing positions and weapons storage sites.

Ayatullah As-Sistani called for holding gatherings in mosques and husseiniyaat to protest against the sacrilege of the honor of the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, the houses and offices of the ayaat and to demand withdrawal of all armed groups from the holy cities.

Early Tuesday, US troops killed nine fighters loyal to As-Sadr in Karbala in the clashes that occurred at a distance of 100 meters from the holy shrine of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (peace be upon him). US troops and militiamen also fought in the holy city of Najaf.

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Leaders, orgs slam holy sites sacrilege, demand coalition withdrawal

HOLY CITY OF QOM/ KUWAIT CITY: Religious leaders and different organizations from Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan and Lebanon have severely condemned disgrace of holy sites in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala and fire on the holy mausoleum of Amir-ul-Momineen (Commander of Faithful) Al-Imam Ali (peace be on him) causing harm to its dome which has drawn deep regrets and anger in the Muslim world.

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Imam Ali (p) shrine suffers harm; Ayat Sistani’s life in danger

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF/ KUWAIT CITY: The golden dome of the most sacred sites - the holy Shrine of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (peace be on him) - was slightly damaged by four gunshots in fighting Friday between US soldiers and Muqtada As-Sadr’s militiamen, and the chief US military spokesman in Iraq said the militiamen were using religious sites “much like human shields.”

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Ayaat offices attacked; Hawzah demands probe on shrine harm; protest in Karbala

HOLY CITIES OF NAJAF AND KARBALA, Iraq: Unknown gunmen attacked offices of two Ayaat in the center of holy city of Najaf, reports said late Sunday, and separately Hawzah Ilmiyah Najaf said occupation forces and loyals to Moqtada As-Sadr were responsible for blood shed in the holy cities, and Karbala witnessed grand anti-US demo.

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