Baghdad, Nov 24: A Sunni Muslim leader called today for a week-long ceasefire in Iraq to allow peaceful celebration of the Eid al-Fitr holidays this week marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. "I call on the resistance to suspend operations this week so that Iraqis can live in peace, without the blast of explosives, bombs and shooting," said Adnan al-Dulaimi, head of Iraq's Sunni religious administration or Waqf.
"I ask also the occupation forces not to deal with Iraqis as terrorists. We are peaceful, apostles of peace and not evil," he said in an Eid sermon at Baghdad's Oum al-Qora mosque.
Dulaimi also urged the US-led coalition to free detainees and prisoners "apart from those proven to have carried out criminal acts."
"I ask (the Americans) to bring joy to the hearts of Iraqis, to stop the searches of homes and the hunt for Iraqis so that they can live this week in peace and quiet."
"I call on everyone to observe a ceasefire."
Sunni religious scholars today declared the first day of the holiday ending the month-long fast after sighting the new moon in the northern regions of Samarra and Mosul, and in Khales, west of Baghdad.
However, Iraq's main Shiite organisation, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, invited the faithful to watch for the new moon tomorrow evening, meaning they would celebrate Eid ul-Fitr either Wednesday or Thursday.
Bureau Report