NAJAF, Iraq - About 400,000 mourners took to the streets Tuesday, flailing their backs and pounding their chests in anguish at the funeral of a leading Shiite cleric assassinated in a car bomb attack. These are quotes taken from an article by By TAREK AL-ISSAWI, Associated Press Writer

Men clad in white robes and dark uniforms brandishing Kalashnikov rifles stood guard along the roof of the gold-domed Imam Ali mosque, where Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim was killed Friday in the bloodiest attack since the fall of Saddam Hussein. Accounts of the death toll ranged from more than 80 to more than 120.

"The occupation force is primarily responsible for the pure blood that was spilled in holy Najaf, the blood of al-Hakim and the faithful group that was present near the mosque," said Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, the ayatollah's brother and a member of the U.S.-picked Governing Council. "Iraq must not remain occupied and the occupation must leave so that we can build Iraq as God wants us to do," he said.

There are two stories coming out here. One is the story on the streets of Iraq and the other is the offical story.

Bremmer, the U.S. civilian administrator for Iraq, said that terrorism is ugly and must be stopped. This only lends support for the US to continue occupying Iraq. Meanwhile the people on the street blame the US for the bloodshed.

Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim was the leading elder Shiite Cleric recently returned from exile. He was on the Iraq council to restore peace in the country and a key link in holding the region in stability. NOw that he has perished the younger more hot headed Shiite clerics may rise to be more of an influence ont ehpeople. Already they are calling for an end to the occupation and have warned the US that hings will get much worse if they do not.

Iraqis scream as they fire their machine guns into the air. The people are very iupset - confused and waiting for clarity to come from their religious leaders. Lets hope they call for peace.

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