Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=04/05/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ/ARREST WARRANT (L)

NUMBER=2-314793

BYLINE= KERRY SHERIDAN

DATELINE= CAIRO

INTRO: An Iraqi judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in connection with the murder last year of a rival Shiite cleric. Kerry Sheridan reports from V-O-A's Middle East Bureau in Cairo, the cleric's supporters have been staging violent protests in Shiite areas of Iraq during the past several days, resulting in dozens of deaths.

TEXT: Coalition spokesmen Dan Senor says Mr. al-Sadr is among 12 people who are wanted for suspected involvement in the murder of Shiite cleric Abdel Majid al-Khoei, who was stabbed to death at a Shiite shrine in Najaf last April.

He said the arrest warrant for Mr. al-Sadr was issued several months ago, and said the timing of the announcement is just a coincidence. But he reiterated that violence will not be tolerated in Iraq.

/// SENOR ACT ///

The debate in Iraq today is not between any two ethnic groups or any two regions. It is between moderates and extremists, and there is no room for extremists in Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

Earlier in the day, U-S helicopters near Baghdad fired on armed Shiite militiamen who were urged by the radical cleric to terrorize their enemy.

Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said Mr. al-Sadr's militia, known as the Mehdi Army, poses a danger to security in Iraq.

/// KIMMITT ACT ///

The actions of the Mehdi army over the past 48 hours are clearly inconsistent with a safe and secure environment and clearly inconsistent with the security of the people of Iraq and we will take action as and when necessary to create a safe and secure environment in Iraq.

/// END ACT ///

Supporters of the radical cleric began protesting last week over the U-S decision to close a newspaper headed by Moqtada al-Sadr, who has been an outspoken critic of the U-S occupation of Iraq. Coalition officials said the newspaper was inciting its readers to violence.

Many Shiites were also angry over the arrest of a top aide to Mr. al-Sadr, and demanded his release.

The protests turned deadly Sunday, after armed Shiite demonstrators clashed with coalition troops, resulting in dozens of deaths.

/// REST OPT ///

General Kimmit said coalition forces are prepared to take serious action against those who resort to extreme measures.

///2nd KIMMIT ACT ///

Individuals who create violence, who incite violence, who execute violence against persons inside Iraq, will be hunted down and captured or killed.

/// END ACT // BEGIN OPT ///

In the wake of the recent clashes between coalition forces and Sunni and Shiite groups, some analysts have begun to cast doubt on whether the U-S-led coalition will be able to transfer sovereignty to the Iraqis by June 30th, as planned.

Mr. Senor said the resistance is coming from three specific sources, and said the United States will not be swayed from its planned hand-over date.

/// 2nd SENOR ACT ///

There are clearly foreign terrorists and former Baathists and other extremists inside Iraq who are trying to derail the process to June 30 when we hand over sovereignty. As General Kimmitt has said we absolutely will not tolerate that, and the Iraqi people will not tolerate that.

/// END ACT ///

Mr. al-Sadr is the 30-year-old son of Ayatollah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, a popular Shiite religious leader who defied the Saddam Hussein regime and was killed in 1999 by Baathist agents. /// END OPT ///

According to news reports (AFP), Mr. al-Sadr is surrounded by supporters inside a mosque in the Shiite city of Kufa. General Kimmitt said the cleric will be treated with respect if he surrenders. But aids to the cleric have pledged to protect their spiritual leader. (SIGNED)

NEB/KS/MAR/RAE