|
Sadr Said Injured, Calls On Followers To Keep Resisting
 |
|
Sadr told his followers not to give up even if he is killed (AFP)
|
NAJAF,
August 13 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Amid reports about
Moqtada Al-Sadr being hurt in the ongoing fighting between US-led
forces and his followers, the firebrand Shiite leader called Friday,
August 13, on his Mehdi Army fighters to continue resisting
occupation, as the US sweeping offensive on the holy city of Najaf
keeps drawing more rebukes from all walks of a boiling Iraq.
Within
the same context, Sunni Muslim Scholars Association in
Iraq
issued a Fatwa (religious edict) forbidding any Iraqi from helping the
US
occupation forces in the Najaf fighting.
A
spokesmen for Sadr had earlier said the Shiite leader sustained three
shrapnel wounds while inspecting fighting positions of his Mehdi Army
against the occupation forces.
"Al-Sadr
was hit by shrapnel in the chest and twice in the leg as he met with
members of his Mehdi Army militia near the Imam Ali shrine Friday
morning," said Haider Al-Tousi, reported Agence France-Presse
(AFP).
The
Iraqi Defense Ministry, however, insisted Friday that Sadr was not
hurt in the fighting in Najaf, adding the young Shiite leader would
not be detained if he left the sacred places in the city, AFP
reported.
"Sayed
Moqtada was not hurt and there is a lull in fighting from last
night," a spokesman for the Defense Ministry said.
Sadr,
meanwhile, called on his followers to continue their resistance
against the occupation forces.
"We
got a letter from him saying 'Be steadfast and behave rationally,
don't surrender to your emotions,'". Sadr's spokesman added.
The
US
forces have launched
a sweeping offensive Thursday, August 12 in a bid to crush
down the uprising of the Mehdi Army, amid fierce fighting raging for
almost a fortnight.
"Major
operations to destroy the militia have begun," said Maj. David
Holahan, executive officer of the 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment.
Sunni
Fatwa
|
|
Huge casualties among Iraqis put a question mark around "Iraq Freedom Operation" (AFP) |
As
the fighting continued to irk Iraqis and outside parties, the highest
Sunni Authority in Iraq weighed in prohibiting "Iraqis and
Muslims" from siding with or helping in any way, the Americans in
their fighting in Najaf.
"It
is forbidden for any Muslim to cooperate with the occupation forces
and killing their own brothers and fellow citizens," it said.
"Iraqi
police and members of civil defense (national guards) should fear
God's punishment and wrath of the people as they battle with the
occupation and participate in the shedding of their brothers'
blood."
The
Fatwa came as resentment and signs of cracks are showing among the
ranks of the Iraqi security forces and government.
On
Thursday, deputy
governor of Najaf resigned, in protest at the 'terrorist' acts
of the US occupation forces as deadly raids into the holy city has
left hundreds of Shiite fighters and civilians killed.
And
in the nearby city of Amarah, hundreds of Iraqi National Guardsmen
said they were joining Sadr's Mehdi Army until the Americans leave
Najaf, and 16 members of Najaf's provincial council suspended their
membership to protest the offensive.
Iraq's
top Shiite Muslim scholar, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, who left
Najaf for London to undergo medical treatment before fighting broke
out, had earlier expressed "deep sorrow and great worry"
about the violence in Najaf, calling for ending the crisis quickly.
Sources
had earlier said a delegation of tribal leaders and political parties
met Allawi Thursday, urging him to bring an end to the
US
offensive on the holy city of
Najaf
.
Allawi
Under Fire
|
|
US forces in Najaf insist on eradicating "Mehdi Army" (AFP) |
Meanwhile,
thousands of Iraqis took to the streets Friday to protest the
US
offensive on Najaf, voicing support for the firebrand Shiite leader.
"We
want to be martyrs for you Moqtada Sadr" and "He's the
bridge to paradise," the men chanted as they marched toward the
center of the holy city, the AFP said.
The
march also denounced interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi for his
support for the
US
attacks against the Iraqi cities.
"We
want to hold a peaceful demonstration outside the convention
center" inside the Green Zone, said one of the protesters, who
spoke on condition of anonymity.
Shoot
Down American Planes" and "Leave Moqtada Sadr", the
protesters chanted.
Also
in
Mosul
, about 300 demonstrators took to the streets of the mainly Shiite
town of
Tallafar
, calling on the Iraqi Premier and the Interior and Defense Ministers
to tender resignation.
"Residents
of Tallafar promise to be Moqtada Sadr's soldiers in fighting the
Americans," they chanted, calling on the premier and his
"failure" government to step down.
Nearly
5,000 Sadr supporters had taken to the streets in
Basra
Thursday, demanding the
US
occupation troops withdraw from Najaf and condemning Allawi for
working with the Americans. Several hundred Iraqis also protested in
Baghdad
.
|
