Al-Sadr's Basra Aide Offers Rewards

AP | 5/07/04

[kattracks]

BASRA, Iraq (AP) - A senior aide of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told worshippers Friday that anyone who captures a female British soldier can keep her as a slave.

The aide, Sheik Abdul-Sattar al-Bahadli, also called on supporters to launch jihad, or holy war, against British troops in this southern city.

He offered money for anyone who captures or kills a member of the Governing Council, the widely unpopular interim administration appointed by the U.S.-led occupation 10 months ago.

Al-Bahadli, al-Sadr's chief representative in southern Iraq, was speaking in a Friday sermon at al-Hawi mosque in central Basra.

It was the first time that any anti-occupation activist of note publicly offered financial reward for the killing or capturing of coalition troops. It's likely to be viewed by occupation authorities with concern at a time of rising anti-occupation sentiment and continuing fighting between al-Sadr's al-Mahdi Army militia and U.S. forces in the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

A wave of kidnappings last month saw scores of foreign nationals snatched by insurgents and shadowy groups across Iraq.

Al-Bahadli kept an assault rifle next to him as he spoke to an estimated 3,000 worshippers, occasionally lifting it as he screamed "jihad," and "Allahu Akbar," or "God is great."

He held in his hand what he said were documents and photographs of three Iraqi women being raped at British-run prisons in Iraq.

He said British forces in Basra have failed to honor agreements not to patrol inside the city and to stop harassing al-Sadr supporters in Basra.

Al-Bahadli said 250,000 dinars - about $350 - will be given to anyone who captures a British soldier and 100,000 dinars - or $150 - for the killing of one. He also called on government departments in Basra to display pictures of al-Sadr in their offices.

[Former Proud Canadian]

Arrest him.

[woofer]

Arrest him.

Shoot him.

As an warning.

[eastforker]

Arrest him my ass, kill him!

[ConservativeMan55]

Kill his ass!

[Allegra]

VAPORIZE him.

[JZoback]

When are we going to stop pussyfooting around with this Al Sadr extremist?

Take the raghead out, bury him with pig blood and then they will have something "really bad" to complain about

OK, I'm stop dreaming

[An.American.Expatriate]

Oh man, this report just oozes with AP sympathy for the enemy!

[jaykay]

Give him to that chick with the cigarette and the leash.

[kcvl]

Senator John F'n Kerry issues a press notice that he expects President Bush to apologize and Rumsfield to resign. /sarcasm

[tiamat]

Well, you have to understand... the only way any of these bozos can get laid is by forcing it on someone.

YUCK

[kcvl]

We can't touch him on a Friday because of religious reasons. We are to respect his follower's religion. Makes me want to puke.

[river rat]

Now we all know why Islam is called a "religion of peace".

No one will have any peace until the crazy bastards are killed....

Semper Fi

[Sacajaweau]

alsadr was reading right from the "Geneva Accords" on handling of captives when he issued this. Yeh, right. Where's the screaming folks??

[kcvl]

Radical cleric al-Sadr arrives at Iraq mosque to deliver weekly prayer

Friday,May7,2004,5:31 AM


Kufa, Iraq-AP -- Rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (mook-TAH'-duh ehl SAH'-dur) has arrived at the main mosque in the Iraqi city of Kufa.

He was surrounded by gunmen and followers as he made his weekly appearance to deliver his prayer sermon.

Al-Sadr is wanted by U-S and Iraqi authorities on a murder warrant and efforts to get rid of his anti-U-S militia have bogged down.

Supporters chanted "No one can beat al-Sadr" as his car pulled up at the mosque and he quickly slipped inside.

Hundreds of U-S troops are deployed around Kufa and nearby Najaf (NAH'-jahf), where al-Sadr has his office. American forces yesterday captured the governor's office in Najaf, expelling al-Sadr's fighters. But they have refrained from moving against al-Sadr during his Friday trips, out of respect for the Muslim holy day.

[mtbopfuyn]

Ya know, I don't recall the pastor preaching to kill and enslave anyone last time I went to church. Ah, the Religion of Peace.

It's started. Whoever intentionally released the photos has blood on their hands. We all knew when the photos hit the streets they would be used as an excuse to raise the murder and kidnapping incidents.

[blanknoone]

A senior aide of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told worshippers Friday that anyone who captures a female British soldier can keep her as a slave.

Do you think the feminazis will support the war against these barbarians now? Nah, I didn't think so either. Hypocrites.

[jocon307]

I am really starting to freak out about this stuff. WHAT ARE WE DOING OVER THERE?

Last I heard we were going to "arrest or kill" Sadr, but I guess we're not going to do either of those things on a Friday, since we have to let him deliver his "sermon". Ok, yes, that makes so much sense to me. I guess we didn't want to arrest Al Capone before April 15th, had to let him file his tax return.

It seems to me our prosecuation of this war has very suddenly degenerated into complete schizophrenia. We are putting in one general in Fallujah, or no, we're not. We are handing over the entire "new gov't." enterprise to the UN guy, wait, we're not really going to do THAT are we?

WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?

[Guillermo]

Nah, they'll let him "preach" anything he wants to, and for as long as he wants, because they wouldn't want to "offend" any Mohammedans.

[Ben Chad]

Jimmy Carter is baaaack.