Papers urge end to Najaf 'bloodbath'

With the spotlight in Iraq on the holy city of Najaf, the regional press warns of dire consequences unless the fighting there is stopped.

Several papers blame US forces for choosing the military option. One daily speaks of an impending 'humanitarian disaster'.

There are indications that Iraq will in the coming days or hours experience a bloodbath, the effect of which will not be limited only to the situation in Iraq, but will affect the outside world as well...

It is incumbent on the wise men of Muslim nations, the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Conference to move fast and stop this genocide, which is taking the lives of innocent civilian who have no links with politics.

Jordan - Editorial in Al-Dustur

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Let this bloodbath, this cheap death end... It is unacceptable to remain silent on what is happening in the holy city of Najaf and its environs, the killing and the bloodshed... because Najaf is not an ordinary city.

Jordan - Editorial in Al-Ra'y

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All the facts demonstrate the need to move fast and stop the fire of Najaf spreading. And the most important of all is that the US forces should listen to what the authorities in Baghdad are saying.

Saudi Arabia - Editorial in Al-Jazeera

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The current tensions and escalation in various towns of Iraq are warnings of a new humanitarian disaster.

UAE - Editorial in Al-Ittihad

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The heinous military operations in Najaf will not bear fruit. The occupation might temporarily succeed because of the sophisticated and destructive military weapons it possesses to besiege and take control of the holy city. But it will never succeed in putting out the fire of anger...

The occupation forces have violated the sanctity of the holy city of Najaf. No Muslim in the world, whether Shia or Sunni, can accept what has happened... The insistence on the language of military force will only bring about more destruction and killing.

UAE - Editorial in Al-Bayan

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The decision taken by the US occupation forces and the Iraqi interim government to seek a military solution to its problems with Moqtada Sadr in Najaf are indeed a great conspiracy.

Lebanon - Commentary in Al-Nahar

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The foreign interventions are a subjugation of the people's will, a usurpation of their powers, as well as an outlawing of their very existence... The slogans shouted by Anglo-American forces before the attacks on Iraq have changed into the opposite. Freedom has turned into slavery and stability into an enraged volcano.

Egypt - Editorial in Al-Jumhuriyah

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The situation in Afghanistan and Iraq calls on the world superpower to review its presence there and move fast to restore security and stability in the two countries. This will not be achieved unless it completely withdraws from both countries.

Egypt - Editorial in Al-Ahram

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.