Leading Iraqi Sunni cleric backs Islamic-style government (joins Shia Sadr

[papau]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1514&e=5&u=/afp/20031022/wl_mideast_afp/iraq_shiite_sunni_031022193009

Leading Iraqi Sunni cleric backs Islamic-style government proposal

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Leading Sunni Muslim Sheikh Abdel Salam al-Qubaissi welcomed the proposal of a firebrand Shiite cleric for a rival Islamic-style government in Iraq on condition it wins popular approval. <snip>

"By entering Iraq, the United States has provoked divine wrath because they only brought evil with them," said the prominent member of the Muslim Ulema, the highest Sunni authority created after the April 9 fall of Saddam's regime. <snip>

Fundamentalist Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr's proposal for establishing an Islamic-style government to rival the US-installed Governing Council was "a good idea", said Qubaissi. <snip>

The Sunni leader said Ahmed Chalabi, who joined the Council as a Pentagon favorite, "would never exist without the Americans." <snip>

[snooper2]

1. I have a question..

How many "leading" clerics are in Iraq? 20, 200, 2000?

[papau]

3. US created this Muslim Ulema -25 members w/ five Sunni, 13 Shiites)

The US-installed interim governing council has Sheikh Ahmed Al Kubaisi, as head of the Iraqi Muslim Ulema Front. The 25-member governing council, which was installed by the US civil administrator Paul Bremer in July, has only five Sunni members, compared with 13 Shiites. The community constitutes up to 20 per cent of the country's population, according to most estimates. Ulema simply means "scholars".

The Shiites cleric rule but need proper birth - you need to be a relative of Mohammed’s nephew. Seems to me that you declare yourself a leader/cleric and see if any follow.

[Maine-i-acs]

2. He's right about Chalupa!

Not many people outside the BFEE want him around.