WP: Iraq Says Cleric Can Reopen Newspaper

[kskiska]

U.S. Had Accused Sadr Of Inciting Violence; Airstrike Hits Fallujah

Monday, July 19, 2004; Page A01

BAGHDAD, July 18 -- Iraq's interim prime minister issued a decree Sunday allowing a rebellious Shiite Muslim cleric to reopen a newspaper whose closure sparked a rebellion against U.S. forces, while U.S. planes struck Fallujah in an attack that shook a tenuous peace there.

The al-Hawza newspaper was closed by U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer on March 28 in an attempt to squelch criticism from the cleric, Moqtada Sadr. The closure became a rallying cry for Sadr's forces, and ensuing fighting across Shiite areas took a bloody toll on U.S. forces.

Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's move was a clear rejection of Bremer's approach and an attempt to bring the powerful cleric and his followers into the political mainstream. Allawi said in a statement that the newspaper should resume publication "to open the way to all Iraqis' activities, including the trend this newspaper represents, to participate" in democracy.

A spokesman for Sadr, Ahmed Shaibani, said the announcement showed that "the decision to close the newspaper was wrong since the beginning. It was a black spot in the history of the U.S. civil administration in Iraq."

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58941-2004Jul18.html

[cornfedyank]

1. that is a good step n/t

[Moderator]

2. Dupe... locking

Please continue discussion here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=693918

kskiska, it would be helpful if you could add your Washington Post link to the original LBN thread... it's a good article!

Thanks!

DU Moderator