Arab League delegation meets Ayat Sistani in Najaf

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Iraq’s Ayatullah Ali As-Seestani has called on the Arab League to play an effective role in the power transfer operation to the Iraqis.

Chief of the Cairo-based Arab League delegation Ahmed bin Helli told this to reporters after holding meeting on Tuesday with the Ayatullah in the holy city of Najaf which houses the holy shrine of Al-Imam Ali ibn-e-Abi Talib (p), the son-in-law and cousin of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (p).

Helli said: “We told him (Ayatullah Seestani) that we support all what relates to the desire and the will of the Iraqi nation and that the Arab League will offer all what is possible to Iraq but after the listening to all parties, all political powers and the maraje diniyah.”

The delegates are the first from the league to visit Iraq since Saddam's overthrow. They are to meet Wednesday with members of Iraq's US-installed interim Governing Council.

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