Iranian delegation arrives in Iraq to help settle Sadr dispute

AFP ^ | Wed, Apr 14, 2004 | AFP

[Eurotwit]

BAGHDAD (AFP) - An Iranian foreign ministry delegation arrived in Iraq (news - web sites) to help settle a standoff between the US-led coalition and Shiite Muslim radical leader Moqtada Sadr, an associate of the cleric said.

"We are going to meet with them, and they may meet with Sayyed Sadr," Haidar Aziz, who presents himself as a close aide and personal interpreter of Sadr, told AFP.

But the foreign ministry's director for Gulf affairs, Hossein Sadeghi, told AFP upon arrival at a Baghdad hotel that there would be "no mediation"

"There is no mediation. We are here to have a clear assessment of the situation to have a better understanding of what's going on in Iraq," said Sadeghi, who is heading a five-member team.

He said the delegation may go to the central holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad, to meet with Sadr, who is believed to have been holed up there for the past week.

"Iran as a neighbouring country has always been concerned over the negative developments in Iraq," said Sadeghi.

"A fire in a neighbour's house is always a matter of concern to all neighbours."

He refused to say whether he would be meeting with coalition or Iraqi officials Wednesday or to give any further details about his plans.

He was seen leaving the hotel with his assistant for an undisclosed destination.

Iran's official IRNA news agency said earlier that Sadeghi would meet coalition officials, Iraqi politicians and religious figures.

Sadr's aide said the Iranian delegation was "here to help resolve the crisis, and we are hopeful that solutions could be found."

Aziz said that earlier Wednesday he had delivered a message to the US-led coalition over the standoff that led the coalition to mass troops around Najaf.

US President George W. Bush (news - web sites) insisted on Tuesday that Sadr must disband his Mehdi Army militia and answer charges levelled against him by an Iraqi magistrate in connection with the killing of a rival cleric.

Aziz said "we told them (coalition) to think before acting because assassinating or killing Sayyed Moqtada will stir reactions from the people and put the country into a very difficult crisis.

"Sayyed Moqtada's followers are many and they will not remain silent, so they better count to 100 before acting."

The United States has made a formal request to Iran to help ease mounting violence in Iraq and Tehran is now making an effort to mediate in the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Wednesday.

[F14 Pilot]

PING!

[nuconvert]

"A fire in a neighbour's house is always a matter of concern to all neighbours."

Especially if one or more of the neighbors is throwing more fuel on the fire.

[kjam22]

Calvary to the rescue. This guy will end up with assylum in Iran.

[nuconvert]

"The United States has made a formal request to Iran to help ease mounting violence in Iraq and Tehran is now making an effort to mediate in the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Wednesday."

They Did?

[kjam22]

Posted by woodyinscc to kjam22 On News/Activism 04/13/2004 7:29:52 PM CDT #291 of 2,645 They're gonna exile him to Iran. Wanna bet?

You are out of your rabid a-- mind. Yes I want to bet.

PING

[Eurotwit]

Well, this is the first I have heard of it.

[McGavin999]

Well, I hope they take Sadar and all the Iranian intelligence service operators home with them.

[McGavin999]

"The United States has made a formal request to Iran to help ease mounting violence in Iraq and Tehran is now making an effort to mediate in the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Wednesday."

More than likely it was "Get your guys out of here or they are going to be dead".

[nuconvert]

If he does, they'll be going against General Abizaid. He has repeated himself....he will arrest Sadr or kill him.

[woodyinscc]

I may have let my alligator mouth, over ride my hummingbirds a--, but I still think There is no way he is going to Iran.

[Gucho]

"The United States has made a formal request to Iran to help ease mounting violence in Iraq and Tehran is now making an effort to mediate in the conflict, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Wednesday."
More than likely it was "Get your guys out of here or they are going to be dead".

I think your right ---->FALLUJAH, Iraq April 14 — U.S. warplanes and helicopters firing heavy machine guns, rockets and cannons hammered insurgents Wednesday in the besieged city of Fallujah, and the commander of U.S. Marines here warned that a fragile truce was near collapse.

"It's hard to have a cease-fire when they maneuver against us, they fire at us. We are trying to maintain the cease-fire, but the enemy is not maintaining the cease-fire."
A U.S. Cobra attack helicopter fired rockets and heavy machine guns before dawn at gunmen gathered on the northern edge of Fallujah. Rocket-propelled grenades streamed up toward the helicopter and a second gunship providing support, but none apparently hit their target.

Early Wednesday, an A-130 gunship pounded a row of buildings from which Marines say ambushes have repeatedly been launched in a residential area.

Gunmen repeatedly attacked one house in Fallujah that the Marines were using. At least 12 gunmen were killed in two nights of attacks.
(AP EXCERPT)

[7.62 x 51mm]

A meeting with that fat, smelly goat-humper punk isn't necessary; a simple *catch & kill* is all that's required, IMO.

[betty boop]

"A fire in a neighbour's house is always a matter of concern to all neighbours."

One gathers the fire in the neighbor's house is also of great interest to the arsonist....

It seems that Iran is engaging in a war-by-proxy against the United States, using Iraq as the theater of conflict, and mainly Iraqis as its soldiers.

I still think we should flatten that nuke plant of theirs. Maybe then they'd get the message that, if they don't stop meddling in Iraq, the penalties will be severe.... Air power alone would do the trick; just destroy their military assets. No ground forces are needed in Iran in order for us to communicate our "Iranian policy." Iran is, after all, a terror state.

[mrsmith]

Translated from diplomese: Iran backing down- and out.

[Tribune7]

It seems that Iran is engaging in a war-by-proxy against the United States, using Iraq as the theater of conflict, and mainly Iraqis as its soldiers.

Yup

I still think we should flatten that nuke plant of theirs.>

Yup. Another thing we should do is target security facilities in areas in which the mullahs aren't popular.

[Gucho]

"It seems that Iran is engaging in a war-by-proxy against the United States, using Iraq as the theater of conflict, and mainly Iraqis as its soldiers."

I read awhile back that many are former pow's from Iraq/Iran War brainwashed by Iran.