Monday, July 31, 2006
Iraqi RhetIraq: Massive Uprising Ahead?
Who: Ayatollah Basheer al-Najafi
Source: Azzaman
Quotes: From article titled, "Security worsens in south; top cleric warns of popular uprising"
Security conditions are worsening in several cities in southern Iraq amid reports of clashes between Shiite militias and the British troops in the region.
In at least three big cities – Basra, Amara and Diwaniya – the militias are almost in full control and have clashed with foreign troop or bombed their bases.
Shiite religious leaders in the holy city of Najaf are reported to have warned the government of Nouri al-Maliki that they may no longer be able to contain the masses and prevent a popular uprising in the absence of security.
"Conditions have aggravated a great deal and reaching the climax," warned Basheer al-Najafi, one of the four main ayatollahs in the Shiite religious leadership which includes grand ayatollah Ali Sistani.
Najafi said it was time the security file in Iraq was handed over to the local authorities. Najafi did not explicitly call for the withdrawal of foreign troops but made it clear that the Iraqis were no longer willing to accept their presence.
"We are afraid that the day of a massive popular uprising is approaching that will result in grave and unpredictable consequences," he warned in a statement.
Najafi said neither the government nor the foreign troops were interested in meeting the urgent needs of the Iraqi people.
He said all promises to improve public services were broken along with the pledges to battle rampant unemployment.
Source: Azzaman
Quotes: From article titled, "Security worsens in south; top cleric warns of popular uprising"
Security conditions are worsening in several cities in southern Iraq amid reports of clashes between Shiite militias and the British troops in the region.
In at least three big cities – Basra, Amara and Diwaniya – the militias are almost in full control and have clashed with foreign troop or bombed their bases.
Shiite religious leaders in the holy city of Najaf are reported to have warned the government of Nouri al-Maliki that they may no longer be able to contain the masses and prevent a popular uprising in the absence of security.
"Conditions have aggravated a great deal and reaching the climax," warned Basheer al-Najafi, one of the four main ayatollahs in the Shiite religious leadership which includes grand ayatollah Ali Sistani.
Najafi said it was time the security file in Iraq was handed over to the local authorities. Najafi did not explicitly call for the withdrawal of foreign troops but made it clear that the Iraqis were no longer willing to accept their presence.
"We are afraid that the day of a massive popular uprising is approaching that will result in grave and unpredictable consequences," he warned in a statement.
Najafi said neither the government nor the foreign troops were interested in meeting the urgent needs of the Iraqi people.
He said all promises to improve public services were broken along with the pledges to battle rampant unemployment.
