Iran cleric urges coalition to submit to Iraqi people's demands
Tehran, April 25, IRNA -- Iran's former judiciary chief Ayatollah
Mohammad Yazdi here Friday reminded the US-led coalition of the costs
which their protracted stay in Iraq may incur and called on them to
succumb to the Iraqi people's will for holding free elections.
The cleric, talking to worshipers at the weekly Friday prayers,
also warned of enemy plots to create division among world Muslims'
ranks, including those in Iraq which has both Shia and Sunni
communities.
"The enemy has always been following the policy of 'divide and
rule' and is pursuing this policy even now but the enemy should know
that Muslims are primarily committed to their faith and Iraqi Muslims
will not go under oppression," Ayatollah Yazdi said.
The cleric called on Iraqi opposition to maintain their unity
and quit raising up controversial subjects.
Ayatollah Yazdi, who is a member of the supervisory Guardians
Council, also chided US and UK for bypassing the United Nations over
Iraq.
"You may stay in Iraq for a while but how much this may cost
you?," he asked.
"America and Britain do not understand the Iraqi people's message.
The Iraqi people say one cannot rule a nation with force and
pressure," he added.
"The most acceptable method for the formation of the future Iraqi
government is to hold free elections under the supervision of the
United Nations and the Organization of the Islamic Conference,"
the cleric said.
Ayatollah said a massive turnout of the Iraqi people recently to
mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) in 860 AD indicated the
"prominent role" of the country's Muslims in Iraq's future.
"American officials are making a mistake by saying that those
mourners' demands do not represent the Iraqi nation's will," he said.
"The Iraqi people are Muslim and 65 percent of the country's
population are Shias who have been living in fraternal peace (with
Sunni Muslims) for many years," Ayatollah Yazdi said.
The cleric condemned Israeli crimes in the occupied Palestinian
lands, saying "Israel is misusing the current situation and
confronting Palestinians".
"The main mischief is being engineered by Israel and the Zionist
party," he said.
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