Gunmen kill aide of Iraqi Shiite cleric (al-Sistani)

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060903/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestsistani_060903073438

IMARA, Iraq (AFP) - Gunmen killed a representative of revered Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in the southern Iraqi city of Imara on Sunday, police said.

Sheikh Hassan Mohammed Mahdi al-Jawadi, 56, was gunned down in front of his office by gunmen in a car, said a police officer from Imara in Misan province.

He said gunmen had also killed Jawadi's son, who was a policeman, two weeks ago in a similar attack.

Jawadi's killing comes a day after Sistani warned Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki of the dangers Iraq faced from militias if his fledgling government failed to curb the raging sectarian violence.

[bemildred]

1. A straw in the wind.

I hope the Ayat has good bodyguards.

[leftchick]

3. interesting you should say that

I just happened upon this photo of a dead bodyguard in the Iraq photo gallery.....



The remains of an Iraqi bodyguard lie outside Yarmouk hospital morgue in Baghdad September 3, 2006. The man was among two bodyguards working for foreign contractors who were shot dead by gunmen in al-Jihad district, police sources said. REUTERS/Namir Noor-Eldeen (IRAQ)

[bemildred]

5. Sigh. Rest in peace.

I expect attacks on the Ayat would get more notice than that poor fellow.

[Missy M]

2. Wow, could it get any messier than this......

It's hard to believe Bush could create such a mess as this. I may be wrong because according to Bushco we are making progress, just as in New Orleans. Will there ever be a solution to what Bush has caused, my thinking is there will be if the US gets out of Iraq.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Another #2 guy?

This is getting really old. :(

[Crunchy Frog]

7. No.

Al-Sistani has been one of the forces for moderation, and against violence. Doesn't look like he's going to be one of the prevailing influences there. :(

[acmavm]

6. Now it's al Sadr who's leading the Shi'ite people in Iraq. Before this at

least al-Sistani still was the symbolic leader. Now he's not even that.