Iraq Al-Sadr Trend Official Reacts to Aide’s Killing, US Statements

Qatari government-funded, pan-Arab news channel Al-Jazeera satellite TV at 0505 gmt on 12 April carries the following announcer- read report:

“Fierce fighting took place in Al-Sadr city in northern Baghdad between Al-Mahdi Army fighters on the one hand, and Iraqi and US forces on the other at a late hour last night [11 April]. Iraqi Police imposed a curfew on Al-Najaf city yesterday [11 April] to avoid any acts of violence that might erupt in the city against the backdrop of assassinating Riyad al-Nuri, director of Al-Sadr office in Al-Najaf, after performing the Friday prayer.”

Following this report, Al-Jazeera anchorman Al-Habib al-Ghuraybi conducts a live four-minute telephone interview with Hasan al- Zarqani, official in charge of Al-Sadr Trend’s foreign relations, in Tehran.

Asked whether Al-Nuri’s assassination would renew confrontations between Al-Sadr Trend and the Iraqi government, Al-Zarqani says that the sons of Al-Sadr Trend are being targeted all over Iraq, starting from Basra and ending with Baghdad. He goes on to say: “The assassination of Mr Riyad al-Nuri indicates that Al-Sadr Trend’s elite elements are being targeted, and that this is not part of the assassinations that take place here and there.”

He goes on to say: “Hands that are trying to fish in troubled water might be behind this incident, but the Iraqi Government should expeditiously form an investigation committee to look into this case so a not to leave questions unanswered.”

Asked whether they suspect anybody, Al-Zarqani says: “The occupation is one of the primary parties that should be held responsible for what is taking place in Iraq. We do not want to hold any Iraqi party responsible for this incident until the Iraqi judiciary proves this.”

Al-Zarqani goes on to say that “although some say that Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr is a political figure who is not targeted, targeting these figures means targeting Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr”, adding that a person is already targeted when his followers are targeted.

Al-Zarqani adds: “Although the US statements were more reasonable than those of the Iraqi Government, which used very bad words to describe Al-Sadr Trend, we think that involving others in politics should not be achieved through pressure, coercion, killing, or displacement.”

Asked about Gates’ remarks when he described Al-Sadr as an important figure in the political process, Al-Zarqani says: “Five years [following the US invasion] they know the important figures in Iraq and those who should be addressed with logical rhetoric, unlike the government, which used tense rhetoric and sent bad messages to Al-Sadr Trend. However, we say to Mr Gates that this is not the right way to handle matters. Al-Sadr Trend is facing a campaign all over Iraq, and the bombing and killing of innocent people, the burning of houses and shops, and the targeting of figures are continuing because of the campaign, which the United States is directly or indirectly responsible for, and which gives the chance to those who want to settle scores with us to do so and to exploit the current atmosphere.”

Originally published by Al-Jazeera TV, Doha, in Arabic 0505 12 Apr 08.

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