Arab uprisings may deepen sectarian rifts

The head of the Islamic Supreme Council in Iraq, Ammar al-Hakim, warned that the popular movements would turn into sectarian or national alignments, stressing that the conflict shifted from "a desire to regain people's rights to international agendas being served in the region". Al-Hakim said during Eid prayers in Baghdad on Monday, before a crowd of his supporters, that the Arab world was "headed towards the unknown", especially in Syria, warning of Arab uprisings turning from a call for liberation to harmful sectarian or national alliances. The cleric said that the conflicts now represented international agendas in the strategic region, and would have serious consequences if sectarian disputes worsened, leading to millions of victims. Hakim said people must stop being misinformed in order to remain innocent, honest and pure of political interests and international projects. The Iraqi leader added that the Supreme Council in Iraq supported the initiative by the National Alliance for Reform and the President in this track, by holding intensive meetings between political leaders. "The future will witness serious challenges without exception," he said. "This risk will be limited to a specific national or political movement or a geographic area but it shall cover the entire area of ??the country. Everyone must realise that division is a gateway to failure," he stated. Hakim said to "protect the Iraqi project", and that the nation could be protected through national unity and alignment behind a strong initiative. "Logic and common sense requires the protection of the project to ensure the unity of the nation," he said.