Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HILLAH60
2006-04-09 18:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
REO Hillah
Cable title:  

SOUTH CENTRAL: NAJAF, KARBALA SERMONS CALL FOR END TO

Tags:  PGOV KDEM KISL IZ 
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VZCZCXRO7241
RR RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHKUK RUEHMOS
DE RUEHIHL #0060 0991855
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091855Z APR 06
FM REO HILLAH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0594
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 0578
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEHIHL/REO HILLAH 0643
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


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.

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