01/09/2003

Al-Jazeera broadcasts ‘Saddam’ denial of cleric slaying

An Arabic language television station, al-Jazeera, has broadcast a pre-recorded message claimed to be from Saddam Hussein in which the former Iraqi leader denies involvement in the killing of a top Shia cleric last Friday.

Ayatollah Muhammad Baqr al-Hakim was among almost 100 people killed when a car bomb exploded in the city of Najaf in central Iraq on Friday.

According to the taped message, the “infidel invaders” had no justification for accusing the followers of Saddam Hussein of the killing.

The message was broadcast as thousands of Iraq’s Shia Muslims gathered to honour their religious leader today as the funeral procession continued on its way to the holy city of Najaf.

The car bomb was alleged to have been the work of Saddam loyalists and the Ayatollah’s death is viewed as a blow to the coalition as he had been seen as broadly in favour of co-operating with the US forces in Iraq.

The killing prompted the senior Shia cleric in Iraq Ayatollah Ali Sistani to repeat calls for the local security to be reinforced, and blamed poor coalition security for continued crime.

However, there are signs that some local involvement in Iraq may develop following the naming of an Iraqi ministerial cabinet – a move viewed as a crucial step forward in restoring a central government.

Weeks of wrangling have been involved as leaders sought to accommodate the various religious and political factions in Iraq and form the basis for a government structure following the removal of the previous regime.

Among the groups involved at ministerial level are Shia Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Kurds, Assyrian Christians and Turkmen.

(SP)

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