Larijani says talks with Sistani positive

NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: Iran’s Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Wednesday described his talks with top Shiite cleric Ali al-Sistani in Najaf as “fruitful,” ruling out any political motives behind his visit. “My visit to Iraq is neither official, nor political. It is for religious purposes only,” the remark was made during a press conference in Najaf city following a meeting with the Shiite cleric. Larijani explained that his meeting with Sistani has tackled several issues of paramount importance to the Muslim world, the region and the whole world. On Tuesday (March 24), Larijani arrived in Najaf and visited the site of the tomb of Imam Ali Ibn Abi Taleb and Imam Mohsen al-Hakeem. Larijani’s last visit to Iraq was on April, 29, 2007, when he was the secretary general of the Iranian National Security Council. Najaf, about 160 km south of Baghdad, had an estimated population of 900,600 in 2008, though this has increased significantly since 2003 due to immigration from abroad. The city is one of the holiest cities of Shiite Islam and the center of Shiite political power in Iraq. Najaf is renowned as the site of the tomb of Ali Ibn Abi Taleb (also known as “Imam Ali”), whom Shiites consider to be the righteous caliph and first imam. The city is now a great center of pilgrimage from throughout the Shiite Islamic world. It is estimated that only Mecca and Medina receive more Muslim pilgrims. The Imam Ali Mosque is housed in a grand structure with a gilded dome and many precious objects in its walls. SS (S)/SR 1