Hawzah conditionally satisfied on return of power

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: The Hawza Ilmiya in the holy city of Najaf has expressed its satisfaction on the return of the authority to the Iraqis but made its contentment conditional with the achievement of complete independence and sovereignty that is not blemished with foreign intervention by any means, holding of general elections on fixed date and acceleration of trial of Saddam and his assistants.

In a statement issued on the occasion of return of independence to the Iraqi nation and the noble homeland, the Hawza offered greetings to the nation and the government and said that a wave of satisfaction ran through the nation and the ranks of Hawza Ilmiya with this move.

The Hawza expressed its concern and worry over the safety of the Iraqis who are being killed by those who regard shedding the blood as lawful and consider legal the trampling of sanctities without deterrent from religion and restraint from conscience.

Meanwhile, Iraqi police imposed a curfew in the holy city of Najaf from Wednesday after a patrol clashed with fighters loyal to Moqtada As-Sadr.

Talking to newsmen, Najaf police chief Ghaleb Hashem Al-Jezairi said that residents should stay in their homes between 9 pm (1700 GMT) and 6:30 am. Witnesses said shops were closed and Sadr’s Mehdi Army fighters were on the streets in force after the clash with a police patrol that had pursued a criminal into the city.

Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said the interim government might impose emergency law in parts of the country racked by unrest.

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