Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=2/5/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= IRAQ / ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT (L-ONLY)

NUMBER=2-312783

BYLINE= KIRK TROY

DATELINE=BAGHDAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iraq's leading Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, escaped an assassination attempt late Wednesday in the southern city of Najaf, according to a governing council member close to the cleric. Details are still sketchy, and it is unclear if there were any injuries during the incident. Kirk Troy reports from Baghdad.

TEXT: Gunmen opened fire on Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and his entourage in Shiite's holiest city, Najaf, on Wednesday evening as he greeted some of his followers.

Mowafaq al-Rubaie, a Shia member of Iraq's Governing Council close to the cleric, told V-O-A that Ayatollah al-Sistani was unhurt in the attack and that he has been moved to a safe location. Mr. Al-Rubaie said he met with the Ayatollah on Thursday and he was in good spirits. Iraqi police were reportedly handling the matter and would release details later.

It is unclear who was behind the attack.

Ayatollah al-Sistani is the most prominent Shia cleric in Iraq and is rarely seen in public. He has recently called on the United States to hold direct elections in Iraq and hand over power to the an elected government. His followers took to the streets in recent weeks to press for general elections.

The United States maintains there is not enough time to prepare for elections before the scheduled handover of authority to the Iraqi people by July. U-N Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has expressed similar reservations, and authorized a U-N delegation to Baghdad to examine the conditions on the ground.

Iraq's Shia Muslims make up around 60 percent of the population, and the attack is widely expected to draw anger from the ayatollah's followers in the coming days.

Meanwhile, in Baghdad, the U-S military said one soldier was killed and another wounded by mortar fire near Baghdad International airport. A U-S army statement said several mortars landed in and around the airport during the attack and that an investigation is under way. (Signed)

NEB/KT /MAR/MEM