KURDISTAN NEWSLINE

August 29, 2003

 

Shi’ia Spiritual Leader
Al-Hakim  Assassinated in Najaf.

 

 

 

 
Ayatollah Hakim

 

Baghdad  Aug 29– A  massive terrorist car bomb outside the Imam Ali Mosque, the Shi’ite holiest shrine in Najaf, resulted in the tragic death of Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Bakir Al-Hakim, the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI).

 

The blast occurred as Said Hakim was leaving the Mosque after delivering a qhutba (sermon) during  the traditional  Friday prayers.   80 others are presumed dead, and many others are injured as a result of the blast.

 

The death of the Iraqi patriot Grand Ayatollah Hakim comes as a severe blow to the political development of Iraq, as many saw Hakim as the most powerful moderate voice among the Shiite establishment in Iraq.

 

Many in Iraq, including Kurds, Shiite and Sunni Arabs alike will mourn the death of Said Hakim.

 

The leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Jalal Talabani expressed his deepest sorrow and condolences to the family, friends and followers of one of Iraq’s most well known and respected political, intellectual and religious figures.

 

 Five of Ayatollah Hakim's brothers and more than a dozen other relatives were murdered during three decades of struggle against Saddam 's Ba'athist totalitarian regime.

 

 

Jalal Talabani Concludes Diplomatic Tour

 

Baghdad, Aug 28 – Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader and Presidential Committee member of the Iraqi Governing Council Jalal Talabani returned to Baghdad today after a diplomatic tour of East Asia, Australia and Bahrain.

 

Mr. Talabani and his accompanying delegation were traveling from Bahrain where they concluded an official one-day visit that included meetings with the Crown Prince Sheikh Salman Bin-Hamad Al-Khalifa, Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin-Salman Al-Khalifa and Foreign Minster Sheikh Mohammad Umbra Al-Khalifa.

 

The Crown Prince expressed his hopes for a peaceful, prosperous and stable Iraq, and believed that the Iraqi people could unite to reconstruct their country.

Jalal Talabani with Crown Prince Sheikh Salman Bin-Hamad Al-Khalifa

 

Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa Bin-Salman Al-Khalifa, in a separate meeting warmly welcomed  Mr. Talabani and stated that he was aware of the great strides that had been taken in the Kurdistan region and hoped that the freedoms available to the Kurdish people could be extended for the rest of Iraq.

 

Bahraini Foreign Minister hosted a luncheon for Talabani and affirmed that he looked forward to working with the new Iraqi Governing Council.

 

The visit to Bahrain came on the heels of a historic visit to Australia, where Australian Prime Minster John Howard received Talabani, the first Iraqi and Kurdish leader to visit Australian since the fall of the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein.

 

During the visit to Australian, Mr. Talabani had a series of meetings with senior Australian officials  including Foreign Minster Downer, Ministers of Trade, Defense as well as many other federal and state ministers.

 

Prior to Australia, Jalal Talabani had officially visited China and Japan where he was seeking to encourage Chinese and Japanese investment in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

The Chinese government officials stated that the reconstruction of Iraq and its rehabilitation was key to the long-term stability of the region, and they affirmed their commitment to working with the Iraqi Governing Council.

 

In Japan, the Chief Cabinet secretary, Yasuo Fukuda and Japanese Foreign Minster Yoriko Kawaguchi expressed support for the Iraqi Governing Council and underscored Japans commitment to the reconstruction efforts being undertaken in Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan.

 

Upon his return Mr. Talabani expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of his visit to Bahrain, Australia, Japan and China and stressed that the purpose for the tour was to further strengthen the relations between the Iraqi, Kurdish and people and governments of the countries that they visited and to enhance active participation in the political and physical reconstruction of Iraq, which  “requires an international effort.”