TOP MOQTADA LIEUTENANT RIYAD AL-NURI ASSASSINATED IN NAJAF;

C O N F I D E N T I A L HILLAH 000046

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 4/13/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR IZ
SUBJECT: TOP MOQTADA LIEUTENANT RIYAD AL-NURI ASSASSINATED IN NAJAF;
CURFEW IMPOSED

CLASSIFIED BY: Angus Simmons, Team Leader, PRT Najaf, DOS.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)




1. (U) This is a PRT Najaf reporting cable.


2. (C) On April 10, Najaf Governor Asad called PRT to inform us
that unknown gunmen had assassinated Riyad al-Nuri, a relative
of Moqtada al-Sadr's by marriage and and senior operations aide
in Najaf. Asad called Team Leader (TL) promptly after he
imposed a curfew in Najaf. Gunmen in an unmarked vehicle
reportedly fatally shot Al Nuri as he made his way to his
residence following Friday prayers at the OMS stronghold Kufa
Mosque. Exact circumstances have been subject to conflicting
reports.


3. (C) Riyad, in his mid-forties, was a top Lieutenant of
Motada al-Sadr's and enjoyed strong support and respect from
both the Sadr current and the JAM wings. He was a close
follower of Moqtada's father Mohammed Sadiq al-Sadr, and
Moqtada's brother-in-law. We understand he was the key leader
of Moqtada's movement in Baghdad in 2004. He is also said to be
on the moderate wing of the Sadr movement and involved in the
recent political discussions between the Najaf authorities and
the Sadrists. He had survived two previous assassination
attempts.


4. (C) Governor Asad, in a subsequent call, informed TL he had
just adjourned a security meeting with Provincial Council, ISF,
ODA and MiTT Team representatives based in Najaf. Asad noted
that Moqtada al Sadr would be in Najaf for the next three days
for al-Nuri's "Fataha" (funeral) observances, which is Islamic
custom. Asad noted that the Najaf police had been instructed
to carry out a thorough investigation. ISF forces were put on
high alert and vehicle traffic in and out of Najaf s prohibited.


5. (C) By mid-day on April 11, the Najaf authorities felt
sufficiently confident about the security situation that they
began permitting traffic in and out of the province, and people
felt comfortable walking in the streets of Najaf. TL spoke to
Governor Asad early that evening. The Governor noted that he
had just finished convening his security team, along with ODA
and MiTT team representatives, and the Governor informed him
that the night curfew had been lifted as well and that the
situation in Najaf was normal. While he had previously asked
PRT to avoid movements in Najaf city during the three-day Fataha
period, Asad noted that he thought things were fine for
movement. FYI, we nonetheless have no plans to visit Najaf
until after Tuesday.


6. (C) COMMENT: The GOI appears to have handled the situation
in a sensitive and conciliatory manner. President Talabani sent
Moqtada a letter of condolence, and Prime Minister Maliki has
announced that a special commission would be sent to Najaf to
investigate the assassination. Najaf security forces and the
provincial government appear to have managed the situation in
Najaf well. Asad's calls to the PRT sends a strong signal
about the governor's personal desire to keep the PRT informed in
real time. High emotions resulting from the assassination --
and presence of Moqtada al-Sadr --have provided the Najaf
government and security team one of its tougher challenges, but
they appear to have handled it well. The Governor is
sufficiently comfortable with the situation that he plans to
continue, albeit after a delay of a day, on his planned visit
to Cairo.

SIMMONS