Ayatollah struggles to regain initiative from firebrand [View All]

[Quetzal]

Ayatollah struggles to regain initiative from firebrand

Iraq's leading Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, struggled on Monday to retain his relevance as his call for a peaceful transition to a democratic sovereign Iraq is overtaken by a violent bid for control of southern Iraq by Moqtada al-Sadr, the young firebrand preacher.

On Monday Mr Sistani, a 74-year-old recluse, appealed for calm, calling on Mr Sadr's followers to exercise self-restraint, while denouncing "the provocation" by US troops.

"Ayatollah Sistani does not support blood-letting and heated gatherings in the streets, but he supports the freedom of speech and the right to express one's opinion publicly as long as it is logical," said Mohammed Haqqani, a Najaf-based adviser to Mr Sistani.

By contrast, Mr Sadr urged his supporters "to terrorise the enemy", saying peaceful protests had become useless.

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Ayatollah struggles to regain initiative from firebrand