Thousands at Husseini shrine demand armed groups pullout

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Thousands of residents of the holy city of Karbala in central Iraq demonstrated peacefully Wednesday against the presence of armed militiamen and coalition troops in their holy city and nearby Najaf.

The protest was called by one of Najaf’s four Marajay Uzzam, Ayatullah Ali As-Sistani. A statement released by him on Tuesday demanded the withdrawal of both US troops and al-Mehdi Army fighters led by Moqtada As-Sadr, and urged Iraqis not to travel to Najaf to join protests called by As-Sadr. Instead, he said, people should join rallies elsewhere to demand that Najaf and Karbala “be rid of all armed manifestations.”

Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, deputy commander of the US Army's 1st Armored Division, said there were indications that As-Sadr was trying to bring in fighters to reinforce his militia in the holy city of Karbala. “We are doing our best to intercept those people,” Hertling said.

The Wednesday’s protest was held in the vicinity of Imam Al-Hussein (p) holy mausoleum. The protesters chanted anti-American slogans and demanded all gunmen and troops pull out from the two holy cities and leave security matters in the hands of residents.

Meanwhile, according to medical sources in Karbala's Al-Hussein (p) hospital said four militiamen were killed and nine others were wounded during clashes with US troops Wednesday.

END

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

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.

FULL STORY..

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.

FULL STORY..