My Way - News Iraq's Sistani Urges Forces to Leave Holy Cities : "NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraq's foremost Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on U.S. forces and Shi'ite militia fighters to withdraw from the holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala Tuesday.
It was the most clear-cut statement on the issue from Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shi'ite authority, since militiamen loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr launched an uprising against the U.S.-led occupation in April.
Sadr's followers, in sermons at mosques across southern, Shi'ite dominated Iraq, have urged Shi'ites to converge on Najaf and Kerbala to defend the cities against U.S. forces.
But Sistani said in his statement it was too dangerous and Shi'ites should instead demonstrate in their hometowns against the presence of all military bodies in the cities.
'The office of Ayatollah Sistani calls on citizens in all of the cities and governorates not to head to holy Najaf due to the dangerous circumstances that the holy city is passing through,' the statement said.
Instead, it said, gatherings should be organized in mosques and provinces around the country, 'to protest violations of the sanctity of the two holy cities.'
Sources in Sistani's office said the statement was aimed mostly at Sadr's militia, which has been accused of attacking U.S. forces from inside mosques, including the Imam Hussein mosque in Kerbala, one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest shrines.
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It was the most clear-cut statement on the issue from Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shi'ite authority, since militiamen loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr launched an uprising against the U.S.-led occupation in April.
Sadr's followers, in sermons at mosques across southern, Shi'ite dominated Iraq, have urged Shi'ites to converge on Najaf and Kerbala to defend the cities against U.S. forces.
But Sistani said in his statement it was too dangerous and Shi'ites should instead demonstrate in their hometowns against the presence of all military bodies in the cities.
'The office of Ayatollah Sistani calls on citizens in all of the cities and governorates not to head to holy Najaf due to the dangerous circumstances that the holy city is passing through,' the statement said.
Instead, it said, gatherings should be organized in mosques and provinces around the country, 'to protest violations of the sanctity of the two holy cities.'
Sources in Sistani's office said the statement was aimed mostly at Sadr's militia, which has been accused of attacking U.S. forces from inside mosques, including the Imam Hussein mosque in Kerbala, one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest shrines.
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