What? Somebody gave him some money?
The Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr had considered "Saddam Hussein and his followers as the enemy of Iraq, rather than the Americans," whom he described as "guests" in Iraq.
| We're "guests." We just had to fight our way in the front door... |
In a statement circulated in Najaf city and the Iraqi daily published excerpts of its yesterday, al-Sadr said that Americans are "peace loving people" and the existence of the American forces in Iraq are "that of guests," calling for that the "holy month of Ramadan will be 'the month of meeting of Iraqis and Americans in circles of peace and amity'."
| Maybe he's back on his meds? |
Al-Sadr stressed the need of preventing "bloodshed and wars and terrorism so as to have tolerance and amity among peoples." He called on the Americans to open the way for attending their councils and seminars, camps and churches.
The American forces had recently detained several associates for Moqtada al-Sadr and prevented worshippers from heading to certain Shiite mosques. Recently al-Sadr sought to form what he called "al-Mahdi army and a shadow government."
FOLLOWUP: MEMRI corroborates...
IN A SURPRISING STATEMENT, IRAQI SHI'A LEADER MUQTADA AL-SADR SAID THAT SADDAM AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE THE REAL ENEMIES OF IRAQ, NOT THE AMERICANS. HE SAID THE AMERICAN SOLDIERS ARE GUESTS AND THAT AMERICANS ARE A PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE. (AL-ZAMAN, IRAQ, 11/2/03) |