SCIRI PRESIDENT AL-HAKIM SENDS CONDOLENCE

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003664

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/I-POL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPDC PREL IZ
SUBJECT: SCIRI PRESIDENT AL-HAKIM SENDS CONDOLENCE
LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH



1. On September 3 President of the Supreme Council
of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI),Abdel
Aziz Al-Hakim, addressed a letter to President Bush
expressing condolences to the families of the
victims of Hurricane Katrina.


2. A translation of the letter's text follows:

His Excellency President George W. Bush
President of the United States of America

We share your grief and the grief of the friendly
American people for the human losses and damage
caused by the hurricane Katrina. Our condolences to
the families of the victims and the afflicted.

This disaster took place at the same time our people
were facing another human tragedy at the holy city
of Al-Kadhimiyya in Baghdad where we lost more than
one thousand citizens along with an equal number of
injured during the performance of sacred religious
rituals.

Once more, we pray for the families of the victims
to have patience, and we are certain that faith in
God's work will help in overcoming this ordeal. We
have great confidence that the people and Government
of the United States of America will be able to
overcome this disaster with firm resolve.

Please accept our deep respect

Abdel Aziz Al-Hakim
President of the Supreme Council of
The Islamic Revolution in Iraq
President of the Unified Iraqi Coalition Bloc
Baghdad, on the 3rd of September, 2005

END TRANSLATION.

Khalilzad