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Lebanon's most influential Shia cleric, Sayed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, appears on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic television's flagship interview programme Fil Sameem (To the Point) on Monday 26 October 2009.

In the programme, the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's Hasan Muawad questions the imam about the most pertinent issues of Shia-Sunni relations across the Middle East.

Hasan Muawad finds out whether there is a common denominator between issues facing Shias in Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen and asks the cleric's view on the claims of Shia proselytising in the region.

Fil Sameem also explores Mohamed Hussein Fadlallah's stance on the system under which Iran is ruled – known as Velayat-e Faqih, or 'Rule by the Supreme Jurist' (currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) – as well as the importance of maintaining a dialogue between Shias and Sunnis.

Fil Sameen is a hard-hitting, one-to-one interview news programme, in which the host, Hasan Muawad, talks to the personalities behind the stories that make the news – from international political leaders to entertainers; from corporate decision-makers to ordinary individuals facing life's challenges.

For details on the programme and to watch online, visit the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic network's website, bbcarabic.com.

Notes to Editors

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic is the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's integrated news and information service for the Arab world. It is available on air and on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

It is designed to reach audiences on radio, television, the internet – on bbcarabic.com – mobile phones and handheld computers in whatever way best suits the audience.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic is both the largest and the oldest of the Ö÷²¥´óÐã's non-English language services. Launched on 3 January, 1938, it has evolved into the Arab world's leading international broadcaster, covering the political, social and cultural issues that matter to its diverse audiences in the Arab world and across the world.

With its new 24/7 TV presence, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic is bringing the world to Arab audiences – reporting the news wherever it leads.

The latest news from Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic is now available on mobile phones, PDAs and other wireless handheld devices.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Arabic breaking news alerts are also offered via mobile operators as a subscription service in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Yemen and the Palestinian Territories.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã World Service Publicity