Tribal chiefs delegation meets top cleric Sistani in Najaf

NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: A delegation of Iraq’s tribal chiefs met on Sunday with top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani at his office in the holy city of Najaf, according to a source from the delegation. “Beni Tameem chieftain, Na’eem al-Suhail, has launched an initiative to tribal chiefs from all over Iraq to form a delegation to meet with Ayatollah Sistani to inquire after his health condition,” the source told IraqiNews.com news agency. A source from Sistani’s office had dismissed reports on Friday (Oct. 15) that the top Shiite cleric’s health was deteriorating due to angina. Sistani, who became the most revered Shiite cleric in 1994 after the death of Ayatollah al-Kho’ie in 1992, is known for his calls to observe “pacifist Shiism”. AmR (P)/SR 43