DATE=2/21/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-245769
TITLE=IRAQ MURDER REACT (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  AN EXILED IRAQI OPPOSITION GROUP SAYS DOZENS OF PEOPLE 
WERE KILLED IN CLASHES IN SEVERAL IRAQI CITIES SATURDAY FOLLOWING
THE MURDER OF THE COUNTRY'S LEADING SHI'ITE MUSLIM CLERIC.  BUT 
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ DENIES THERE WAS UNREST AND BLAMES THE 
MURDER ON FOREIGN FORCES, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT SCOTT 
BOBB IN OUR MIDDLE EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO.

TEXT:  THE EXILED SUPREME COUNCIL FOR THE ISLAMIC REVOLUTION IN 
IRAQ SAYS THE CLASHES OCCURRED DURING MAJOR DEMONSTRATIONS IN A 
NUMBER OF CITIES, INCLUDING BAGHDAD AND THE SOUTHERN CITIES OF 
NAJAF AND KARBALA.  IT SAID THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF ARRESTS.

BUT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT DENIES THE DEMONSTRATIONS TOOK PLACE.  
OFFICIALS ESCORTED JOURNALISTS TO A SUBURB OF BAGHDAD SATURDAY, 
AFTER THE REPORTS FIRST SURFACED.  THE NEIGHBORHOOD WAS CALM.

THE ALLEGED DEMONSTRATIONS CAME AFTER THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT 
ANNOUNCED THE COUNTRY'S SENIOR SHI'ITE CLERIC, AYATOLLAH SADEQ 
AL-SADER, WAS SHOT TO DEATH, ALONG WITH TWO SONS, FRIDAY IN NAJAF
-- 160-KILOMETERS SOUTH OF BAGHDAD.

THE GOVERNMENT NEWSPAPER "AL-JOUMHOURIA" CALLED THE MURDER A 
FOREIGN PLOT AIMED AT DISTURBING INTERNAL SECURITY.  IRAQI 
OPPOSITION LEADERS BLAMED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT, SAYING IT 
TARGETED THE RELIGIOUS LEADER BECAUSE HE WAS HOLDING 
WIDELY-ATTENDED FRIDAY PRAYERS AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S WISHES. 

                        /// REST OPT /// 

SHI'ITE MUSLIMS MAKE UP TWO-THIRDS OF THE IRAQI POPULATION OF 
22-MILLION PEOPLE.  THEY HAVE FREQUENTLY COME INTO CONFLICT WITH 
THE GOVERNMENT, AND SHI'ITES WERE HARSHLY REPRESSED AFTER AN 
UPRISING IN SOUTHERN IRAQ IN 1991.

IN NEIGHBORING IRAN, THE MURDER OF THE IRAQI CLERIC BROUGHT RAPID
CONDEMNATION.  SENIOR RELIGIOUS LEADER AYATOLLAH ALI KHAMENEI 
SAID PERSECUTION OF SHI'ITE MUSLIMS IN IRAQ IS AT ITS PEAK AND 
ADDED THE GOVERNMENT IN BAGHDAD WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.   
(SIGNED)

NEB/SB/DW/RAE

21-Feb-99 11:50 AM EST (1650 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.