Petition condemns Iran for "disorder" in S.Iraq [300,000 Iraqis sign petition]

Yahoo News ^ | Nov 21 2007 | Mariam Karouny

[camerakid400]

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - More than 300,000 Iraqis including 600 Shi'ite tribal leaders have signed a petition accusing Iran of sowing "disorder" in southern Iraq, a group of sheikhs involved in the campaign said.

The sheikhs showed Reuters two thick bundles of notes which contained original signatures. The sheikhs said more than 300,000 people had signed the pages.

Such a public and organized display of animosity toward neighboring Shi'ite Iran is rare in Iraq. Iranian influence has grown steadily, especially in the predominantly Shi'ite south, since the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

"More than 300,000 people from the southern provinces condemned the interference of the Iranian regime in Iraq and especially in spreading security disorder in the provinces," the sheikhs said in a statement.

They did not elaborate, but Washington and the U.S. military accuse Iran of arming, training and funding Shi'ite militias in Iraq. Iran denies the charge and blames the violence in Iraq on the U.S. invasion.

The sheikhs declined to be identified for fear of retribution. They said various groups had been collecting the signatures for six months across southern Iraq. It was not immediately clear what they planned to do with the petition.

[manic4organic]

Trouble in Mookieville perhaps?

[DB]

al Sadar, you listening?

I hope the next time your head pops up they pop it off.

[RightWhale]

Iran and Iraq haven’t particularly liked each other for about 1000 years, and even then they didn’t.

[GOP_1900AD]

Then send it via missile straight to Ahmanutjob.

[elhombrelibre]

Arab Shia in Iraq fed up with the mad Iranian mullahs messin’ with their peace ping.

[Cap Huff]

“They said various groups had been collecting the signatures for six months across southern Iraq.”

This is interesting. Six months ago in the Iraq situation is a long time. The sentiments have been brewing for many more months before that.

And don’t miss Wrechard’s “Half Full” posting:

http://fallbackbelmont.blogspot.com/2007/11/half-full.html

With reference to the return of many Iraqi’s from abroad:

“But that understanding must begin with the realization, which the returnees from Baghdad may understand better than the pundits in Washington, that something very wonderful may have been achieved in Middle East. It can never come by perversely mis-characterizing it, as some commentators at the Daily Kos have done, as a “gift” truce from Moqtada al-Sadr. A more balanced approach would be to recognize the elements of success for what they are and to apply them to the challenges that are yet to come.”