Shiite Goodwill May Be Eroding in Iraq (more unemployment riots)

[Barrett808]

Shiite Goodwill May Be Eroding in Iraq
By HAMZA HENDAWI, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The goodwill of Iraq (news - web sites)'s Shiite majority, so crucial to the success of U.S. policy, may be eroding. Strong opposition by a top Shiite cleric to key parts of a U.S. political blueprint for Iraq and the spread of violent protests in Shiite areas suggest a dangerous trend.

The U.S.-led coalition, which has already dropped one political plan for Iraq in the face of opposition by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, sought to play down the significance of the cleric's latest objections, saying they were part of a healthy democratic climate in which political and religious leaders freely express their views.

Dan Senor, a spokesman for the Coalition Provisional Authority, told reporters Monday that implementation of a political agreement signed two months ago between L. Paul Bremer, chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, and the Iraqi Governing Council, was on track.

"Ambassador Bremer has tremendous respect for Ayatollah al-Sistani," Senor said, but added: "We look forward to implementing the Nov. 15 political agreement."

...

In Kut, a mainly Shiite city 95 miles southeast of Baghdad, Ukrainian troops fired in the air Monday to disperse about 400 Iraqis who rioted to demand jobs. One Ukrainian soldier, four Iraqi policemen and one protester were wounded.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040112/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_disappearing_goodwill&cid=540&ncid=1480

[Gman]

1. There ought to be unemployment riots here

to get someone's damn attention.