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Ayatollah Mohammed al-Tabtabai, imprisoned for 20 years in the notorious Abu Gharib jail near
Baghdad for "inciting the population against Saddam Hussein" is also on board.
"The American army is useful to ensure that those loyal to the former regime have left. The key
thing is that they be kept at a distance," said the 66-year-old with a gray beard, visibly weakened
by his time in prison.
In his tiny office filled to the rafters with books, Tabtabai, who has been seen as a local wise
man since his release from prison in October, stressed his "immense hope" and the "need for
democracy" and laid out the priorities of the committee: security and electricity for hospitals.
In Shiite holy city Kerbala, Iraqis form committee to fill vacuum
http://www.spacewar.com/2003/030417190216.a4qxqg7w.html
KARBALA, Iraq (AFP) Apr 17, 2003
In the holy city of Karbala, an Iraqi municipal committee has come together to restore order
in cooperation with US forces and former exiles, but first it must prove its legitimacy.
These troubles in the heart of Shiite country reflect those found on the national level as
Iraq struggles to get on its feet amid conflicts of interest, the claims of religious groups and
controversy over the US presence.
In the committee, 30 elders have joined together to fill the gap in local authority after the
collapse of Saddam Hussein's regime.
At its head is a judge, Mohammed Ali Nasrallah, whose family paid a heavy price under Saddam
Hussein, explained a doctor, Munir Toamh.
"It is the sons of Karbala who are represented," he said.
Ayatollah Mohammed al-Tabtabai, imprisoned for 20 years in the notorious Abu Gharib jail near
Baghdad for "inciting the population against Saddam Hussein" is also on board.
But in holy Karbala, the presence of a former exile, Nizar Haidar, member of the
Washington-sponsored Iraqi National Congress, makes some grit their teeth, as well as the presence
of the US military on the outskirts of the city.
"We are an occupied country; we no longer have a government but a foreign army at our
doorstep. The new authority must exist outside any foreign mold," said Mohmmad Hussein, a
61-year-old candy and soap merchant.
"We reject these Iraqis who took refuge abroad while we suffered here," said teacher Alla
Salhe.
"It is easy to stay elsewhere and then return to claim power."
Ayatollah Tabtabai remained calm.
"The American army is useful to ensure that those loyal to the former regime have left. The
key thing is that they be kept at a distance," said the 66-year-old with a gray beard, visibly
weakened by his time in prison.
In his tiny office filled to the rafters with books, Tabtabai, who has been seen as a local
wise man since his release from prison in October, stressed his "immense hope" and the "need for
democracy" and laid out the priorities of the committee: security and electricity for hospitals.
Karbala, a city of 500,000, saw only a few hours of combat, mostly on the periphery, pitting
the Americans against about 100 Fedayeen paramilitary fighters loyal to Saddam alongside foreign
volunteers, mainly Syrains, who were elminated or disappeared.
The destruction was limited to security buildings and the looting to a few service stations
and state-run shops. Residents explained that their imams had urged them to avoid the anarchy that
has engulfed Baghdad and some other parts of Iraq.
The sense of optimism is not shared by everybody in Karbala.
Sheikh Kaazem al-Abahadi al-Nasari denounced the committee.
"The people of Karbala need to be consulted," he said. "And Karbala, a Shiite holy city,
cannot accept a leader who has come from the United States."
"The situation has changed from 100 years ago, under the British mandate. Now most Iraqis can
read and think about things. They won't tolerate an occupation," he said.
Life, however, is returning to normal.
Stores are slowly reopening and the markets are filled with everything from spices to
hardware to a wide array of fresh vegetables. Tea merchants are out, and the situation is stable
enough that the hospital is taking in patients from Baghdad and Basra, Iraq's second city, said
Toamh.
Schools are expected to reopen Saturday and technicians are repairing the electricity lines.
Police officers wearing short-sleeved white shirts direct traffic in the heart of the city.
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