Shiite cleric, entourage abducted in Karbala

[ECH1969]

A controversial Shiite cleric was abducted late Monday in the southern Iraqi holy city of Karbala, according to reports citing his colleagues. Armed men stormed two houses and kidnapped five men including Ayatollah Mahmoud al-Hassani.

The others taken included two of his aides and two bodyguards, the sources said.

Supporters of al-Hassani fought street battles last month with Iraqi police.

He at first supported radical Shiite militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime, but the two split over al-Sadr insistence on holding sole leadership over their group.

http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Shiite_cleric_entourage_abducted_in_09042006.html

[independentpiney]

1. Not so good, politically motivated or not.

If it's a shia affair, its going to result in more violence, and if it does turn out to be a ransom, the sunnis will catch the revenge.