Humanitarian reasons, talks cited by Ambassador Bremer

Coalition military forces have unilaterally suspended offensive operations in Fallujah in order to hold a three-way meeting of Iraqi Governing Council members, local Fallujah leaders, and anti-coalition leaders, Ambassador Paul Bremer said April 9.

Bremer, administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq, said in a statement that in addition to the meeting, the suspension of hostilities would be used "to allow delivery of additional supplies provided by the Iraqi government and to allow residents of Fallujah to tend to wounded and dead."

Also on April 9, the CPA published another Bremer statement, dated April 8, which cautioned Muslims traveling and planning to travel to Iraq's holy city of Najaf in order to celebrate the Arba'een.

[An Islamic holy city, Najaf is home to the shrine of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet Mohammad's cousin and son-in-law and fourth caliph (656-661 A.D.). Najaf also contains one of the largest cemeteries in the world. According to Imam Ali, any Muslim buried here will enter paradise; as a result, the tombs of several prophets are found in Najaf. Shia Muslims especially consider it a privilege to be buried here. Like Karbala, Najaf became an important center of Islamic scholarship and theology.]

"In light of the current unsettled security conditions ... especially in the Holy City of Najaf, we in the Coalition urge all parties to exercise great vigilance and caution during the upcoming commemoration of Arba'een," Bremer said. "Each individual must judge the issue for himself or herself with the counsel of their religious authorities ... but the pilgrims should make their individual judgments knowing that the dangers this year are very real."

Following are the text of the two Bremer statements:

(begin text)

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Baghdad, Iraq
April 9, 2004

Coalition Suspends Offensive Operations in Fallujah for Humanitarian Reasons

Ambassador Bremer today issued the following statement:

Today [April 9] at 1200 [local time], Coalition Forces initiated a unilateral suspension of offensive operations in Fallujah in order to hold a meeting between members of the Interim Governing Council, Fallujah leadership and leaders of the anti-coalition forces, to allow delivery of additional supplies provided by the Iraqi Government, and to allow residents of Fallujah to tend to wounded and dead.

During this suspension period, Coalition Forces retain the inherent right of self defense, and will remain fully prepared to resume offensive operations unless significant progress in these discussions occurs.

End text.

Begin text:

COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY

Baghdad, Iraq
April 8, 2004

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BREMER ON THIS OCCASION OF ARBA'EEN

Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) administrator, today [April 8] issued the following statement on this occasion of Arba'een:

In light of the current unsettled security conditions in the South, and especially in the Holy City of Najaf, we in the Coalition urge all parties to exercise great vigilance and caution during the upcoming commemoration of Arba'een.

Iraqis have been relieved of a dictator who, as a matter of policy, repressed their rights to practice their faith. Now, individuals who seek to take power through mob violence, and by blocking Iraq's democratic path, are also making it unsafe for Iraqis to worship God.

We are fighting to restore law and order so that all Iraqis can enjoy their new freedoms.

I call on all Iraqis to cooperate with the legitimate security authorities to thwart those who seek to disrupt this holy commemoration.

I know that many Iraqis and pilgrims from other countries are worried about whether they can perform their religious duty in peace and security, and some governments have urged their citizens not to go. Each individual must judge the issue for himself or herself with the counsel of their religious authorities. For our part, we and the Iraqi authorities will do all we can with limited capabilities to facilitate safety and security, but the pilgrims should make their individual judgments knowing that the dangers this year are very real.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)