Radical Iraqi Cleric Rejects Interim Government

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040604/wl_nm/iraq_sadr_dc&cid=574&ncid=1480

KUFA, Iraq (Reuters) - Rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rejected Iraq (news - web sites)'s new interim government on Friday but agreed to shore up a shaky truce with American forces after weeks of clashes. snip


"I do not want to have anything to do with this government," said a statement issued by Sadr and read out by Sheikh Jader al-Khafaji at Friday prayers at a mosque in Kufa, near Najaf.


"I don't believe any Iraqi would accept this appointment of a government by the occupier. There is no freedom or democracy without independence," he said, speaking to several thousand worshippers gathered at the mosque where Sadr normally preaches.


"Which country has accepted the U.N. appointing its rulers except for Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq? Leave us to decide our fate as a unified people, not under submission to the occupier."

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[maddezmom]

1. yeah, Chalabi the peacemaker did a great job with Sadr

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"We are sorry to hear all these difficulties, all these rumors, all this investigation going on. Chalabi still in my view will have a role to play," Zebari said at the United Nations (news - web sites) in New York. "He has fought very hard to have the regime of Saddam Hussein toppled and we are following this news and development with great distress."


Chalabi came to Najaf to try to help negotiate an end to two months of fighting between American soldiers and Shiite militiamen of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.


Those talks have not borne fruit yet, and clashes between the Americans and militiamen persist.


Chalabi's supporters say he aims to unite Shiites so they can be well prepared for the election, in which they expect to transform their demographic dominance into political power.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&ncid=736&e=9&u=/ap/20040604/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_reinventing_chalabi