"There is no conflict between (Ayatollah Ali) Sistani and the religious leaders of Najaf," said Ali al-Shawki, imam of the Al-Rasul mosque (the mosque of the prophet), the largest in the primarily Shiite suburb Al-Sadr City, formerly known as Saddam City.

"The Iraqi people love him and he has no enemies in Najaf," he told AFP in an interview at his mosque.

Flanked by bodyguards bearing assault rifles, Shawki carried his own small pistol tucked in his belt.

"There is no conflict between religious leaders and no settling of scores or vengeance," he insisted.

"There is no vengeance between Sistani and the brothers of Sadr."

According to Kuwaiti Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqer Musawi al-Muhri, gunmen surrounded the home of of Ali Sistani in Najaf, central Iraq on Sunday and demanded he leave Iraq within 48 hours.

Muhri said the group threatening the clerics comprised followers of Muqtada al-Sadr, the 22-year-old son of Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr, a senior Shiite authority assassinated in 1999, allegedly by Saddam Hussein's regime.

The reported incident had sparked speculation about mounting rivalry among Shiite factions after the downfall of Saddam Hussein's regime, which was dominated by Sunni Muslims.

"These are lies from abroad against the people of Iraq," Shawki said.

"The Iraqi people understand this and protect their religious leaders."

Muhri said Monday that the gunmen had withdrawn from Sistani's home, following the intervention of several tribal chiefs.

SPACE.WIRE