Erdogan sorry for Fadlallah's death

Turkish PM offers condolences to Hizbullah chief after cleric dies.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan 311 (photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Recep Tayyip Erdogan 311
(photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan called Hizbullah chief Hassan Nasrallah to give his condolences over the death of Hizbullah spiritual leader Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah, Al-Manar reported on Wednesday.
"Erdogan gave his condolences and asked to relay them to Fadlallah's family and the Lebanese people," the Lebanese television station reported.
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Al-Manar added that "Nasrallah responded by expressing appreciation for the telephone call, and for Erdogan's stance on the Palestinian issue."
Fadlallah died on Sunday, after a long illness. According to AFP, He is blacklisted as a terrorist by the United States along with Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
Fadlallah founded Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's governing Dawa Party and was thought to be its religious guide. In the 1980s, he was described as the spiritual leader of Hizbullah; however, both he and the group denied the claim.
The spiritual leader was known for his staunch anti-American stance, was instrumental in the rise of Lebanon's Shiites, and had a strong following among Shiite communities both in Lebanon and his native Iraq.
CNN’s senior editor of Middle East affairs, Octavia Nasr, drew fire after posting a message on her Twitter account on Sunday in which she expressed sadness at the Fadlallah's death.
“Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah... One of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot,” Nasr wrote.