Iraqi Lawmakers Seek Legal Action Against Al-Jazeera

Al-Sistani is Iraq's leading Shi'ite cleric (AFP) May 10, 2007 -- Iraqi lawmakers have voted to launch legal proceedings against the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television network over perceived insults against top Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Hussein Ali al-Sistani.

The nature of the legal action to be taken by parliament was not immediately clear.

The May 9 move came after protests in the cities of Al-Najaf and Al-Basrah on May 4 by Shi'a angered over an Al-Jazeera talk show in which al-Sistani's leadership credentials were questioned.

(AP)