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Iraq: Radical Shi'ite Cleric Calls For Shi'ite-Sunni Unity

Heightened tensions between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims in Iraq continue following the 22 February bombing of a Shi'ite shrine in Samarra. Some 200 people have been killed since, many of them Sunnis targeted in retaliatory attacks. Nearly 20 mosques also have been destroyed and dozens damaged.

PRAGUE, 26 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Fearful of civil war, Iraq's religious and political leaders are trying to ease sectarian tensions since the bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra.

Today, radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr appeared at a rally in the southern city of Al-Basrah to call for Muslim unity.

Al-Sadr summoned his many followers to hold joint Friday prayers on 3 March at Sunni mosques, especially those damaged in the past days' violence. ''I call on all believers, Sunnis and Shi'a, to be brothers, as the Prophet Muhammad did.''

''I call for unified prayers among Sunni and Shi'a, to include the mosques that have been targeted and the ones that haven't," he continued. "There is no such thing as Sunni or Shi'ite mosques."

Violence Continues Across Iraq

Shortly afterward, there was an explosion in a Shi'ite mosque in another part of Al-Basrah. Police said they suspected three men wounded in the attack were planting the bomb when it exploded prematurely.

In the Iraqi town of Al-Hillah, a bomb reportedly killed five people today. The Al-Hillah area is part of a cluster of towns in a religiously mixed area south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad where Sunni insurgents are active.

Meanwhile, strict security measures remain in force in Baghdad. The streets of the city remained quiet today with a traffic ban extended until 27 February to reduce the threat of further violence.

Iraqi police Lieutenant Mahmud Murtadha told Reuters today in Baghdad that people seem to be cooperating with the authorities. "The citizens' cooperation with us is remarkable. They enforced the curfew," he said. "We are only allowing those who have necessary and urgent cases to pass.''

Defense Minister Sa'dun al-Dulaymi warned on 25 February of the risk of endless "civil war" in Iraq as the sectarian violence spread.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Ja'fari and President Jalal Talabani were among senior Iraqi political leaders who met for talks the same day aimed improving the security situation.

Copyright (c) 2006. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org