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Cleric says US measures in Iraq meant to sideline Muslims

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Aug 13, IRNA -- Secretary of the Guardians Council (GC) 
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said here on Friday that the recent US 
measures in Iraq that have started from the holy city of Najaf are 
meant to sideline Muslims from Iraq`s political arena. 
Jannati, in a sermon at Tehran Friday prayers, said the US is 
plotting to leave the affairs of Iraq to a certain group of seculars, 
stressing that this is a pre-planned scam which has already been 
started. 
He described the offensive of US-led forces in Najaf as a great 
calamity, and hailed those resisting the attacks in front of Imam 
Ali mosque in the city. 
Jannati further warned that US measures against the Shias will 
eventually also address the Sunnis, and said the efforts by the Sunnis
who are fighting US troops in Iraq are praiseworthy. 
Elsewhere in his remarks, the GC secretary lashed out at the 
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) for adopting silence 
toward the Iraqi developments and regretted that the organization is 
taking no measure in that connection. 
"Why don`t the leaders of Islamic world take a measure [toward the
developments in Iraq]?" he asked. "Do they expect the conditions in 
Iraq to get even worse than this?" 
Jannati said the recent surge of violence would have never emerged
in Najaf had Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani been in Iraq, adding that 
the US is making the best use of his absence in Iraq. 
The GC secretary expressed hope that Ayatollah Sistani would soon 
recover and return to Iraq, stressing that he is the protector of the 
Iraqi people. 
He said everyone now realizes what US democracy means. 
"Iraqi cemeteries are abundant with US democracy and the streets 
of Najaf are witnessing western democracy," Jannati said. 
He further blamed the interim Iraqi government for showing the 
green-light to US occupation troops, and said that Najaf governor 
had betrayed the people of the city and the Iraqi Muslims. 
Jannati accused the interim Iraqi government of promoting sedition
for carrying out the recent wave of arrests of Iranians, including 
pilgrims, on charges that they have been involved in Iraq`s unrest. 
"These allegations are total lies. The pilgrims who have been 
arrested were travelling in Iraq only to visit the holy sites," he 
said. 
Jannati warned that such measures will have serious consequences. 
"Nobody took any consideration of us when we were calling out to 
Muslims to help the Palestinians, and that if the Palestinian Intifada
is suppressed, then the aggressors will attack other places," he said.
"Today the Zionists are celebrating. They are present in military,
political and economic arenas and if the danger [of Zionists] is not 
contained, it will affect other areas, as well." 
Jannati further called on the press to pressure the relevant 
international organizations over the realities in Iraq and support 
those resisting the US-led occupation troops. 
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