Top Iraqi Religious Leader:

The Sunday Telegraph Gethin Chamberlain and Aqeel Hussein September 3, 2006 at 08:20 PM
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The most influential moderate Shia leader in Iraq has abandoned attempts to restrain his followers, admitting that there is nothing he can do to prevent the country sliding towards civil war.
Aides say Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is angry and disappointed that Shias are ignoring his calls for calm and are switching their allegiance in their thousands to more militant groups which promise protection from Sunni violence and revenge for attacks.
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