Clashes erupt between security – religious followers

NASSIRIYA / IraqiNews.com: Fighting has erupted between police forces and followers of religious leader Mahmoud al-Sarkhy in Nassiriya city, central Iraq, a representative for Sarkhy in central Iraq declared. “Clashes took place when Sarkhy’s followers poured into the city to pray in a mosque” Sheikh Mohammed al-Yassiri told IraqiNews.com. Security sources announced here today that the entrances of the city were closed today to prevent any clashes by incoming Sarkhy’s followers from other provinces, coming to demand that his office in the province be re-opened. The sources told IraqiNews.com that security forces will permit them to leave the town. A number of southern provinces with a Shiite majority, particularly in central and southern parts, such as Diwaniya, Nassiriya, Basra and Karbala, witnessed clashes and demonstrations, amid exchanging accusations  between Sarkhy’s followers and Grand Shiite leader Ali Sistani‘s supporters. RM (TS)/SR 411