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Sunni and Shia Clerics Meet in Najaf, Discuss Unity
Multi-National Force - Iraq ^

Posted on 11/29/2007 4:29:55 PM PST by SandRat

NAJAF — Shia and Sunni religious leaders met in Najaf Tuesday to discuss peace and unity in Iraq.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the top-ranking Shia cleric in Iraq, hosted the meeting, calling for an end to the sectarian violence that has plagued the country. Leading Sunni religious figures also attended, including Sheikh Khalid al-Mullah of the Sunni Muslim Scholars Association.

"Multi-National Force - Iraq applauds these religious leaders, who are reaching across sectarian lines to end the bloodshed," said Rear Adm. Greg Smith, MNF-I spokesman. Smith added that, while there have been other meetings between clerics and religious scholars from the two groups, this meeting is particularly promising because it is taking place in an atmosphere of reduced violence nationwide.

The an-Najaf talks come at a time when other factors, including the troop surge, the change in military tactics, the increasing effectiveness of the Iraqi security forces and the formation of Concerned Local Citizens groups, are having a positive impact on the security situation, military officials said.

According to MNF-I data, violence in Iraq is at its lowest level since January 2006. Attack levels are continuing a downward trend that began in June of this year, with the number of weekly attacks reaching its lowest level since early February 2006 -- before the Samarra mosque bombing that month. Iraqi civilian deaths have also declined in recent months, and have been on a general downward trend since December 2006.

"We continue to welcome Muqtada al-Sadr's pledge to stop attacks," said Smith, noting that other religious leaders have also shown a willingness to stop the violence. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but the efforts towards peace by Sistani, Mullah and other religious leaders, demonstrate their concern for the safety of all Iraqis. It's a very encouraging sign."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: clerics; frwn; iraq; meet; shia; sunni; unity

Press Releases


1 posted on 11/29/2007 4:29:57 PM PST by SandRat
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To: 91B; HiJinx; Spiff; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; clintonh8r; TEXOKIE; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketFR WAR NEWS!Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!


Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
2 posted on 11/29/2007 4:30:50 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
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To: SandRat
Moslems agreeing to stop killing Moslems.

No agreement to stop killing infidels!

3 posted on 11/29/2007 4:32:46 PM PST by rocksblues (Just enforce the law!)
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To: rocksblues
Moslems agreeing to stop killing Moslems.

For a society and religion that worships death, that's easier said than done.

But hey, if it makes for enough stability so we can exit the theatre in victory, I'm OK with it.

4 posted on 11/29/2007 4:40:12 PM PST by airborne (Proud to be a conservative! Proud to support Duncan Hunter for President!)
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To: SandRat
Sunni and Shia Clerics Meet in Najaf, Discuss Unity>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

What is wrong with the press here?

Correction:

Sunni and Shia Clerics Meet in Najaf, Discuss How to Keep Iran Out of Iraq.

There thats fixed!

5 posted on 11/29/2007 5:00:26 PM PST by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
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To: rocksblues

It’s good news. Stability in Iraq is bad for the terrorists, Iran and Syria. (Here) we all know that Islam is a demented cult, but there is no need to spin every good development in Iraq into something disastrous.


6 posted on 11/29/2007 9:28:31 PM PST by SolidWood ("I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.")
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