Free Republic

QOM, Iran (AP) - The spiritual mentor of a radical Shiite Muslim cleric fighting U.S. forces in Iraq distanced himself Sunday from attacks against coalition forces by militiamen loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr. Through one of his top aides, the Grand Ayatollah Kazem al-Hosseini al-Haeri said it wasn't yet time for military confrontation with the United States. But hundreds of his followers are returning to Iraq with a message from him encouraging Iraqis to reject the U.S. occupation and warning the coalition against disrespecting Muslim holy sites in Iraq. "His Eminence has not issued any fatwa (religious edit) to engage in...

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 25 — A religious edict issued in Iran and distributed to Shiite mullahs in Iraq calls on them "to seize the first possible opportunity to fill the power vacuum in the administration of Iraqi cities." The edict, or fatwa, issued on April 8 by Kadhem al-Husseini al-Haeri, an Iraqi-born cleric based in the Iranian holy city of Qum, suggests that Shiite clerics in Iraq are receiving significant direction from Iran as they try to assert the power of Iraq's long-oppressed religious majority. It is not yet clear how much popular support Mr. Haeri and other clerics emerging...