Iraq Council discusses deal to end Shi'ite violence (by Not Prosecuting Al-Sadr!)

reuters ^ | 4/7/04 | Reuters

[Mark Felton]

BAGHDAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-installed Governing Council has discussed a proposal not to prosecute the rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for murder if he agrees to halt a Shi'ite uprising, council members said on Wednesday.

They told Reuters after meeting to discuss the violence sweeping Iraq that using more force against the young cleric and his followers could lead to more civilian casualties and bolster support for him.

"Iraq could refrain from pursuing the arrest warrant in return for Moqtada renouncing violence," said one Shi'ite council member, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.

"The situation would be akin to Lebanon's Subhi al-Tufaili, who is contained," he said, referring to the ex-Lebanese Hizbollah Shi'ite guerrilla group leader.

Tufaili is wanted for allegedly killing Lebanese soldiers and trying to assassinate a former Lebanese president years ago, but he roams the Bekaa Valley freely while staying away from vocal politics.

An arrest warrant is out for Sadr in connection with the killing of another cleric who returned from exile a year ago.

The murder of Sayyed Abdel Majid al-Khoei, the son of the late Grand Ayatollah Abu al-Qassem al-Khoei, sparked fears of violent divisions among Iraq's Shi'ite leadership.

Sadr has denied involvement in Khoei's murder. The arrest warrant was issued months ago but was only announced after his followers clashed with U.S. forces last week. The U.S. military says he will be arrested.

UPRISING

The cleric's followers have fought with occupation forces in the southern cities of Nassiriya, Amara, Kut, Kerbala and Najaf, vowing to carry on a revolt that has killed over 130 people since Sunday.

The Governing Council issued a statement denouncing the violence, but was considering taking a proactive stance to end the crisis, council sources said.

"The members will not sign on the plan and no delegation will go see Moqtada unless we are sure he can be contained," said an official with close links to the 25-member council.

"Using more force against him will not work and the Americans know this. Many more will die and even more radical elements could emerge if he is killed," he said.

Council members said previous attempts to integrate Sadr into the U.S.-led political process had failed.

They said a Governing Council delegation secretly met Sadr last year after his supporters fought in Kerbala with followers of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, regarded as the country's most influential Shi'ite cleric.

Sadr then agreed not to resort to violence but insisted the United States should withdraw its occupation forces from Iraq, they added.

Moderate Shi'ite leaders such as Sistani are seen as wary of being drawn into the conflict. Police in the seminary city of Najaf have allowed Sadr's followers to occupy their stations, and Sistani's followers let them effectively take over the city.

"There is not much Shi'ite holy men like Sistani can do," the council official said. "They are men of religion, not interior ministers."

[Ready4Freddy]

Iraq declared him an outlaw - we consider it an internal Iraqi matter.

Did anyone explain how he made it from Sadr City to Najaf after we'd declared him an outlaw?

[aynrandfreak]

It shouldn't have been internal once he started calling for violence against coalition forces.

[GretchenEE]

Did the USA not restore electricity to Iraq?

Why aren't the Iraqi governing council-ors using the light bulbs?

[McGavin999]

If the GC does something like this it should be disbanded as total incompetents. Either they uphold the rule of law or there is no function for them. Letting this guy go will only make him stronger. They are growing their next Saddam.

[McGavin999]

I vote we send in some SF guys to kidnap him and replace him with a look alike who will confess everything, disband his group, and join a group of hermits.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

I agree with you Mark. Very Very bad idea.

We can't make deals with terrorists!

[CyberAnt]

Yes, very bad idea, and I don't believe this. The council has made really tough but good decisions in the past .. and this one seems to be 180 degrees from that. Also .. this group is extremely tough on Saddam so I just don't believe they feel this way. You might find ONE MEMBER who has given this opinion, but not the whole council.

[Bellflower]

I think this whole group of people in this area have waged war on the rest of Iraq. I think the rest of the people in Iraq need to realize that they are their enemies and wage was against them and bring them to their knees or else they will be sorry later. These people want to rule Iraq again. It would be best if they harshly delt with their own people and we did not have to do it so that it would not be used as anti-American propaganda for the rest of the Arab world. If they want to govern themselves they need to show teeth and this would be a good start for them. They need to take responsibility for what their people have done. We can certainly help them with weapons and logistics. Of coarse, if they don't clean them out we should.

[not-an-ostrich]

Since the arrest warrant is months old I would say they have already "been there, done that" and look what they reaped.

[bushfamfan]

Is your nephew doing ok? I hope this is seriously not being considered by our side and he better not be allowed to get away with this. He is an inevitable problem and deal with him now. Of course, John F'n Kerry thinks he's a 'legitimate voice', but this President had better not allow this terrorist to get away with this.

[Ready4Freddy]

Agreed.

[OhFor theLoveofGod]

"Al-Jazeera apologised for not broadcasting the Italian's killing. An official for the TV told Italian television that Mr Quattrocchi had been shot in the back of the neck with a pistol."

What scum. Shot in the back. Sometimes I wonder if the Iraqis are worth the trouble.