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Iraq
Shia cleric ’escapes assassination’
2003-09-04
A prominent Shia cleric has been assaulted outside a Baghdad shrine in an apparent assassination attempt, reports say.
Sayyed Ali al-Waadi al-Musawi, a representative of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, said he and his guards were shot at near the Kadhimiya shrine in the Iraqi capital.
Typical bad shooting, that’s one reason they like car bombs
Three people were detained and handed over to the Iraqi police.
That’s nice, we’ll let you handle it.
The alleged attack comes after Ayatollah Hakim and more than 120 others were killed in a car bomb attack at a Shia shrine in Najaf. "Thanks be to God, none of my guards was injured," Mr al-Musawi told the AFP news agency. His bodyguards exchanged fire with the attackers - at least one of whom is believed to have been injured in the gunfight.
Hope it was very painful.
Mr al-Musawi criticised both coalition forces and the Iraqi police for their response to the attack. "The Iraqi police just lay on the ground in fear throughout the exchange," he told the agency.
Maybe they were worried about being caught in the crossfire?
"And the coalition forces failed to cordon off the area to mount any search for the attackers," he said.
Sez you. If I had a evil, sneaky mind (ok, I do) I’d be wondering about any failed attempts on cleric’s. It would help their poll numbers and give them something more to complain about. Just a thought.
Posted by:Steve

#2  He's worried about his bodyguards' safety. Good man.
Posted by: Mitch H.   2003-9-4 2:55:01 PM  

#1  Also tends to distance them from the Hakim bomb. Think "Manny the Mook" al-Sadr'll be a "target" who miraculously escapes a firey death at the hands of persons unknown to lead his people to victory over the Infidel invaders?

No? Bet he'd like to, though...
Posted by: mojo   2003-9-4 1:30:53 PM  

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