Posted on 04/03/2003 11:24:29 PM PST by gaucho
Ayatollah: 'Do not fight coalition'
A leading Iraqi Muslim religious leader has urged his countrymen not to oppose invading coalition troops.
Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has also asked people to stay in their homes in and around the Shi'ite holy shrine of Najaf.
Ridwan Al-Killidar, manager of the charity Al Khoei foundation, said its sources in Najaf had reported two fatwas issued by the Ayatollah.
Mr Al-Killidar said: "One of them urges people not to vandalise public property.
"The second one hasn't been confirmed but people have heard that Ali Sistani has urged people to be neutral, not to take sides and stay in their homes."
Grand Ayatollahs are the highest authorities in Shi'ite Islam and Sistani is the only one in Iraq.
"Some of the Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq and Britain and elsewhere were worried about what stance to take in this conflict," said Mr Al-Killidar.
"This will help. Being neutral and not interfering will help a lot of people and will make a lot of people happy because it will save lives in Najaf"
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