Al-Sistani blesses the new government; Khamenei condemns it
Najaf (AsiaNews) - The moderate Shi'ite Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani gave his "condizional approval" to the newly-formed Iraqi interim government yesterday. Ayatollah Al Sistani's decision comes as an open challenge to criticisms launched yhe same day by Iranian Ayatollah Kamenei. Iran's spiritual guide accused the Iraqi interim government of being "under American orders". The official position of the Iranian government, however, was expressed by the Foreign Ministry spokesman, and considers the new Iraqi government "a step toward restored Iraqi sovereignty." On a different front, Imam Moqtada Al-Sadr began withdrawing his militia from Najaf this morning.
Friday prayers in the Al-Kufa Mosque were led not by Moqtada Al-Sadr but by his deputy Jaber Al-Khafagi who attacked the newly-formed interim Iraqi government and Premier Ayad Alawi, defining him "an agent of the American secret service".
Concerning again Najaf, American troops began a campaign today to buy arms held by Iraqis.
Recognition from Al Sistani is in line with the request advanced by U.N. representative Lakhdar Brahimi who had asked the Iraqi people to "give the new government a chance and not judge it a priori, but by what it accomplishes". Ayatollah Al Sistani stressed that the new government lacks "legitimacy", as it is "non-elected" and asked the new Iraqi political authorities to "guarantee sovereignty and security". The conditions imposed by Al Sistani for a full blessing are: "an unequivocal U.N. Security Council resolution regarding the return of full sovereignty to the people of Iraq, security across the country, re-establishment of infrastructures, and careful preparation of general elections." (PB)
.png)
23/01/2018 09:59
