Key Shiite cleric opposes Iraq national unity plan

CNN ^

[TexKat]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Shiite lawmakers said Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric withheld support Saturday for a U.S.-backed plan to build a coalition across sectarian lines.

The move jeopardized hopes that such a show of political unity could help stem the country's deadly violence.

Members of the United Iraqi Alliance, the Shiite coalition that dominates parliament, met with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in Najaf after traveling to the holy city over the past few days. Al-Sistani holds no political post and rarely emerges from his home and adjacent office, but he has strong influence over Shiite politics.

Some members of the Shiite alliance have sought a coalition that would include Kurds and Sunnis and sideline Muqtada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric whose militia is blamed for much of Iraq's sectarian violence. Lawmakers who attended the meeting with al-Sistani said the cleric opposed any move that would divide Shiites.

"There are obstacles in the face of forming this coalition, because al-Sistani does not support it. So we will work to strengthen the (Shiite) alliance," said Hassan al-Sunnaid, of the Dawa Party of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

[TexKat]

Story Highlights

• Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani opposes sidelining Muqtada al-Sadr, lawmakers say

• Revered cleric opposes new bloc that could break Shiite unity, lawmakers say

• Shiite lawmakers visited both clerics

[TexKat]

Key Shiite cleric opposes Iraq national unity plan ping!

[jmc1969]

It looks like Sistani has changed his mind, I am sure Sadr and his Madhi thugs were responsable for that.

[FreeReign]

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani opposes sidelining Muqtada al-Sadr, lawmakers say.

Looking at the quotes in the article, I don't think al-Sistani went as far to say that he opposes sidelining al-Sadr.

That said, on the surface, it appears impossible to get an alliance with those who are currently aligned with fatso.

[steel_resolve]

Thanks for nothing Sistani - just another powermongering thug.

[Sword_Svalbardt]

Standard rhetorical bravo sierra.

[Marine_Uncle]

The winds change and swirl over the deserts of this ancient land.
Nothing appears set in concrete, let alone having much substance. Mirages seemed to be the normal way of life.

[Austin Willard Wright]

Thanks for nothing Sistani - just another powermongering thug.

Why did anyone here ever expect him to do otherwise? He's an Islamic fundamentalist with his own agenda. He's not going to change just because we send in troops, though he will use them for his own advantage. The view that we could somehow "reform" the Iraqis was always a pipedream.