Iran arming Sadr militia as US troops surround Haideri shrine

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: As a conspiracy against Marjaiyat and Center is working behind the Najaf standoff, Iraqi defense minister accused Iran of sending weapons to Mehdi militia here while US forces were prepared to move into the holy shrine of Imam Ali (p) in order to crush the militia headed by Moqtada As-Sadr.

In an interview broadcast on the Arab-language television network Al-Arabiya, Defense Minister Hazem Shaalan made the comments. He said: “There are Iranian-made weapons that have been found in the hands of criminals in Najaf who received these weapons from across the Iranian border.”

Iran has denied allegations that it played a part in arming the militia groups in the holy city of Najaf.

US marines on Tuesday have surrounded the Imam Ali (p) shrine, one of the most holy sites. They drove through the streets of Najaf asking civilians to leave parts of the city where they are fighting militia.

A senior US military official said the governor of Najaf has authorized US forces to move against the holy shrine - burial place of Commander of Faithful Al-Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (p), son-in-law and cousin of holy Prophet Muhammad (p) and caliph of all Muslims - where members of the militia loyal to Moqtada As-Sadr have taken refuge.

“The militia must be finished because this violence is affecting everything in the country, not only the city of Najaf and the shrines, but the economy, the development and everything else,” George Sada, spokesman for Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said.

US officials said Sadr's use of the shrine as a center for military operations may leave them with no choice.

“The Mehdi militia is using the Imam Ali Mosque for protection. They are organizing and conducting attacks from the mosque contrary to the law of armed conflict.”

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