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Iraq's grand ayatollah declines to bless
Shiite-Sunni-Kurd bloc
24.12.2006
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Al-Sistani's refusal is a setback for politicians
hoping to isolate al-Sadr, an anti-U.S. cleric.
BAGHDAD, Iraq, December 24, -- Iraq's most
revered Shiite cleric withheld support Saturday for
a U.S.-backed plan to build a coalition across
sectarian lines, Shiite lawmakers said, jeopardizing
hopes that such a show of political unity could help
stem the country's deadly violence.
Members of the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite
coalition that dominates parliament, met with Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf after traveling to
the holy city over the past few days. Al-Sistani
holds no political post and rarely emerges from his
home and adjacent office, but he has strong
influence over Shiite politics.
Some members of the Shiite alliance have sought a
coalition that would include Kurds and Sunnis, and
sideline Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric whose
militia is blamed for much of Iraq's sectarian
violence.
Lawmakers who attended the meeting with al-Sistani
said the cleric opposed any move that would divide
Shiites. |
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqi Shiite cleric |
"There are obstacles in the face of forming this
coalition, because al-Sistani does not support it.
So we will work to strengthen the (Shiite)
alliance," said Hassan al-Sunnaid, of the Dawa Party
of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Ali al-Adib, also a Dawa Party member, said al-Sistani
"does not support such blocs because they will break
Shiite unity."
An official close to al-Sistani, who spoke on
condition of anonymity because he was not authorized
to speak to the media, said the cleric "will not
bless nor support any new bloc or front. He only
supports the unity of the Shiites."
Such a development could frustrate U.S.-backed
efforts to persuade Iraq's political leaders to set
aside sectarian interests and work together for the
sake of national unity. Without progress in Iraqi
politics, some observers say, the security situation
in the country is likely to remain tenuous.
Al-Maliki, the Shiite prime minister, had relied
heavily on the support of al-Sadr, whose 30
loyalists in the 275- seat parliament and six
ministers in the 38-member Cabinet boycotted
politics after al-Maliki met Bush in Jordan
recently.
Al-Sadr's walkout revealed the depth of division
within the 130-seat Shiite bloc in parliament, where
some lawmakers who are viewed as moderate have grown
weary of the radical cleric's confrontational
tactics.
Al-Sistani is also believed to be uncomfortable with
the younger al-Sadr, a firebrand whose fighters
waged battles against American troops that left
parts of Najaf in ruins.
AP
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