Representative of Shiite Clergyman Sistani, escapes assassination attempt

BASRA / IraqiNews.com: One of the leading representatives of the highest Shiite Authority, Sayed Ali al-Sistani, called Sheikh Mohammed Falak, has escaped an assassination attempt in al-Zubair area of southern Iraq ’s Basra Province on Saturday, a source close to the Sheikh reported.   “A group of armed men opened fire from guns, fixed with silencers, at about 10.00 pm local time last Friday, on Sheikh Mohammed Falak, while coming out of a Husseiniya (Shiite mosque) at al-Askari district, 20 km to the west of Basra,” Taleb al-Abadi told IraqiNews.com news agency.   Abadi said the Sheikh had escaped the assassination attempt, but one of his bodyguards was seriously injured.   Zubair township is 30 km away from Basra , 590 km to the south of Baghdad .   SKH (ST) 809