***** Shia leader murdered in Najaf
A Shia cleric in the central Iraqi holy city of Najaf has been murdered, a spokesman for the London-based al-Khoei foundation has said.
Assailants armed with knives attacked Abdul Majid al-Khoei inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf - one of the holiest sites for Shia Muslims, Fadhel Milani told BBC News Online.
A colleague who had been accompanying Mr Khoei confirmed his murder in a telephone call to the foundation, Dr Milani said.
Mr Khoei was the son of the late Grand Ayatollah al-Khoei, spiritual leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims at the time of the 1991 Gulf War.
Co-operation with coalition
Dr Milani said Mr Khoei had been in the mosque with four friends when he noticed another cleric, Haydar Kilidar, was coming under attack.
Mr Khoei attempted to protect Mr Kilidar but was himself attacked by the crowd, Dr Milani said.
Both men were killed.
Mr Khoei, who left Iraq 12 years ago, had returned to Najaf from London two weeks ago.
He had hoped to help restore order following the downfall of the Baathist regime and was working in co-operation with the coalition, Dr Milani said.
Although Mr Khoei was usually accompanied by coalition forces, the officers do not enter the mosque and so were unable to rescue him, Dr Milani said.
Dr Milani said that he believed Mr Khoei's association with the coalition forces had provoked the attack, saying "certain people did not want him in that role".
He said other colleagues from London would now "think twice" before returning to Iraq.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2936887.stm> *****
-- Yoshie
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