Posted on 08/28/2004 7:11:27 AM PDT by PlanoMike
Iraqi police have discovered about 10 bodies of executed civilians and police in the basement of a religious court run by rebel cleric Moqtadr al Sadr.
Some of the bodies had been mutilated or burned, according to reports.
The discovery came after al Sadr officially handed over control of Najaf's Imam Ali shrine.
A representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani confirmed the handover as militia loyal to al Sadr handed in their weapons.
Thousands of Iraqi Shi'ites have been marching to the shrine to show their support for Ayatollah al Sistani.
The ayatollah had returned to the southern holy city to negotiate the peace deal after medical treatment in London.
Al Sadr agreed to Ayatollah al Sistani's call for his supporters to lay down their arms.
Najaf was reported to be quiet after three weeks of fighting.
Ayatollah al Sistani also wants US forces to leave the city with security being turned over to Iraqi police.
He is also seeking compensation to be given to anybody caught up in the unrest.
Iraq's Shi'ite spiritual leader was given 24 hours by the interim government and the US to negotiate an end to 22 days of fighting.
In Baghdad, State Minister Kassem Daoud said the government had accepted the initiative.
Under the deal the Government agreed al Sadr would be "free to go anywhere he likes".
It is hard to believe that they turned this guy loose to screw up things again.
Not even Drudge?????????
I don't know how much credibility to give this, but one commentator on Fox suggested that now that Al Sadr is out of the "holy shrine" he is fair game. If he's taken into custody soon, maybe it was smart to get him out of there--if not, then I have to think this is a huge mistake. (Not ours, Iraq's.)
yesterday it was 20 bodies. What are the reporters doing just making things up to send out? The reporters sound like kerry and his minions. (cant keep the facts straight)
Near my hometown, there is a little community called "Plano."
I'm from Plano, Texas. We're North of dallas and have a population of 225,000, see http://www.planotx.org/ for details.
Sadr will be killed by coalition troops, just not in the Shrine or in front of CNNs cameras.
The Islaminazi's forget... the drive-by shooting was invented in Dodge City during the 1880's from horseback.
If nothing else, this time Al-Sadr and is merry men of thugs are out of the shrine. Next time it will be a lot easier to go after him.
I believe you are correct. The first priority had to be getting him out of the mosque. Now that he's out he has two choices, behave or give them cause to pick him up again. Without the mosque for protection he's probably dead meat if he doesn't flee to Iran. He might also wind up "mysteriously" dead.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.