Posted on 06/16/2004 2:18:19 AM PDT by kattracks
NAJAF, Iraq (AP) -- A radical Shiite cleric on Wednesday ordered members of his militia to leave the holy cities of Nafaj and Kufa unless they live there, fulfilling a key aspect of an agreement meant to end fighting between his forces and U.S. troops.Muqtada Al-Sadr told fighters who had come here from other parts of Iraq to return home and "carry on their duties as God wants," a statement from his office said.
The call was the latest from al-Sadr striking a less hostile tone. The firebrand preacher said last week he would cooperate with the new interim Iraqi government if it works to end the U.S. military presence.
Al-Sadr launched an uprising after U.S. occupation authorities closed his newspaper, arrested a key aide and announced a warrant for his arrest in the April 2003 murder of a moderate cleric. Outraged loyalists rallied to his defense and then kept on fighting, motivated by religious zeal and admiration because he stood up to the Americans.
Although al-Sadr's forces still fight American troops periodically in Baghdad's Sadr City district, the Americans forced the militia to abandon another Shiite city, Karbala, and to accept a truce this month in Najaf and Kufa.
The truce has generally held despite a flare-up of fighting last week between the militia and Iraqi police.
He will wait until he faces a weaker adversery, then unleash his murderers to wreak havoc.
Which is why we should just take care of the al-Sadr problem now.
Before the handover.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.