SOUTH CENTRAL: NAJAF, KARBALA SERMONS CALL FOR END TO

UNCLAS HILLAH 000060 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KDEM KISL IZ SUBJECT: SOUTH CENTRAL: NAJAF, KARBALA SERMONS CALL FOR END TO POLITICAL STALEMATE, WASIT JA'AFARI SUPPORTERS RALLY ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. Friday sermons in both Najaf and Karbala condemned ongoing sectarian violence and demanded an end to the political wrangling over the formation of a national government. In Najaf, a high-ranking Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) cleric also expressed his frustration over the slow pace of the Saddam Hussein trial. In Karbala, a representative of Ayatollah Al-Sistani stressed that the Marja'aya would remain behind the United Iraqi Alliance slate, but reminded its leaders that the delay in forming a government was causing unnecessary pain and suffering among their supporters. In Wasit, at a rally to commemorate the death of Dawa Party founder Mohammed Sadiq Al-Sadr, a large crowd demonstrated their support for PM-designate Ibrahim al-Ja'afari. END SUMMARY. -------------- NAJAF -------------- ¶2. (U) At the SCIRI affiliated Husinya Al-Fatima mosque in Najaf, senior SCIRI cleric Sadr Al Deen Al-Qubngi strongly condemned recent attacks on Shi'a in Najaf and Baghdad. Qubngi assigned responsibility for pursuing the perpetrators-in his opinion, Saddamists and Baathists-on Iraqi security forces. ¶3. (U) Though Saddamists and Baathists may be to blame for the attack, asserted Qubngi, the slow pace of government formation talks is also at fault. The lack of a permanent government harms security throughout the country, according to Qubngi, noting that Najaf is particularly vulnerable during this tense period. -------------- KARBALA -------------- ¶4. (U) In Karbala, a representative of Ayatollah Sistani castigated the politicians of the UIA for failing to reach an agreement on the formation of a national government. Shaykh Abdul Mahdi Al-Karbalee, without mentioning specific parties or politicians, called on "all political entities to weigh keenly the necessity of finding a solution for the current problematic situation even if it takes some to yield certain political positions." ¶5. (U) Though critical of UIA leadership, Al-Karbalee indicated that the Marja'aya remained firmly behind the Shi'a Islamist alliance, stating "The Al-Marja'aya will support the UIA as long as they remain united." The UIA, according to Al-Karbalee, still possessed the trust of Iraq's Shi'a, but stated that a continued stalemate would call this trust into doubt. ¶6. (U) Al-Karbalee concluded with criticism of Coalition Forces and perceived U.S. interference in the Iraqi government, demanding that the Iraqi Government "expose to the public all the security violations that the American forces have committed." -------------- WASIT: PRO JA'AFARI DEMONSTRATION -------------- ¶7. (U) In Al-Kut, approximately one thousand Dawa Party supporters gathered to commemorate the death of Dawa Party founder Mohammed Sadiq Al-Sadr. With representatives of all constituent parties of the UIA present, the gathering quickly became a rally in support of UIA Prime Minister-designate Ja'afari. Banners at the brief, peaceful rally included the familiar slogans, "No, No America! No, No, Israel" as well as "Yes, Yes Ja'afari! Yes, Yes to Islam!" ¶8. (SBU) COMMENT. Facing the twin challenges of sectarian violence and rising impatience with the slow pace of government formation, politicians and clerics in Iraq's Shi'a heartland reached out to their followers during Friday sermons. Keeping South Central voters convinced that the UIA-despite its faults and conflicts within its leadership-is the only true representative of Shi'a aspirations will be an ongoing challenge for the UIA leadership. Given the VBIED attacks in Najaf and Baghdad immediately prior, it was somewhat surprising that the rhetoric was not more strident. END COMMENT. FONTENEAU