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According to VOI Sheikh Assad al-Naseri said that “Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr issued an order to cancel our march to Samarra after the government decided to abandon protection for the visitors.”
A number of mosques announced the latest development during Friday prayers, facing shouts and, occasionally, tears as worshippers reacted to the news that the July 5 march was being called off. Naseri directed the enmity at the Maliki regime, telling his followers at the al-Kufa mosque, “If the government is no longer able to protect citizens it has to step aside.”
Just Thursday, Sadr released a statement pledging the march would go forward as a demonstration of Iraqi unity.
"We want Iraqis, tribes, community leaders and officials to show goodwill and cooperation to make this visit successful and a turning point in broken relations because those criminals who destroyed the shrine will not be pleased (by this march)," said the statement from Sadr's office in Najaf.
Al-Sadr appealed to the entire spectrum of religious and ethnic groups, saying "We hope that this year will be good for Iraqis when they get closer to each other by breaking all the barriers that were placed by the occupiers and takfiris."
Maliki's office publicly responded with a formal statement saying more time is needed to secure the road to Samarra.
"While we take into account the emotion of people who want to march peacefully to Samarra, we say that the task of securing the road is still incomplete according to reports from field leaders on the ground," the government statement said.
