Attempt on Iraqi Cleric's Life Disputed

[Barrett808]

Attempt on Iraqi Cleric's Life Disputed
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

NAJAF, Iraq - The son of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, bodyguards and political allies denied reports of an attempt on the spiritual leader's life. So did a statement posted Saturday on al-Sistani's Web site.

Media reports varied greatly. Some said gunmen opened fire on the elderly cleric Thursday while he greeted well-wishers. Others spoke of assailants who tried to kill al-Sistani inside his house.

The confusion over what really happened was the elusiveness of Iraq's most powerful Shiite cleric, a recluse who has not been seen in public in a year, refuses to meet U.S. officials and makes his positions known through brief and infrequent religious edicts.

Mohammed Reda, al-Sistani's son and top aide, told Iraqi reporters through intermediaries that the reports were baseless but wouldn't speculate on what prompted them. Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, a Governing Council member and leader of a key Shiite political party, said reports of an assassination attempt were "fabricated" and "baseless."

Meanwhile, a steady stream of visitors flocked Friday to the alley where al-Sistani lives to inquire about his health. "His eminence is safe and is in good health. The media reports are lies," his bodyguards repeatedly told the crowd, who included Shiite clerics and tribal chiefs.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=10&u=/ap/20040207/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_sistani_mystery

[Chicago Democrat]

1. The first casualty of war is the truth.

My suspicion is that the intial reports were true, but Sistani squashed them to avoid the increasing possibility of civil war.

May Allah grant Sistani long life.