Iraq leaders warn US enter not holy shrines, demand Sadr to leave

By: Hamoud Kufi

BAGHDAD, Iraq: An important meeting of a hundred of the most powerful Shiite leaders here demanded from Moqtada As-Sadr to leave the holiest cities to protect their honour, and urged US-led coalition forces to stay out of the holy Shrines.

Those at the meeting -- who included religious, political and tribal leaders -- agreed on four points, according to a member of the political bureau of the Shiite Dawa Party Joad Al Malki: Al-Sadr and his armed men must leave the holy shrines and the police and defense corps must resume policing functions.

The final point is an injunction to the coalition not to enter the holy shrines to rid the cities of As-Sadr and his men.

On Thursday, US troops attacked Mehdi militia forces of Moqtada As-Sadr around the holy city of Najaf, seizing the local governor's offices and killing 41 fighters. US tanks moved unopposed into the center of the nearby holy city of Kerbala, destroying offices used by the militia. Plumes of smoke rose from one area as US helicopters swooped low overhead in Najaf. US forces have said they will refrain from entering shrines or offending religious sentiment.

The coordinated attacks began hours after powerful Shiite politicians and religious leaders met in Baghdad to urge Sadr to withdraw his militia from the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Separately, the US administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer appointed a new governor for Najaf on Thursday.

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