Iran Press/Middle East: The terrorist cell had planned to assassinate Iraq's most prominent Shia cleric in the wake of ongoing protests against corruption, unemployment, and poor public services.
Citing Najaf Provincial Governor Luay al-Yassiry, Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV news network said on Friday that members of the terror cell had managed to infiltrate the old part of the city to kill the revered cleric in the holy city of Najaf, south of Baghdad.
Al-Yassiry did not provide any further information about the identity or the number of terrorists involved in the assassination attempt.
Earlier in the day, Grand Ayatollah Sistani urged Iraqi security forces and protesters to avoid violence, expressing his sadness over some sporadic unrest that has led to several casualties.
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