Iraq's Sadr to disband Mehdi Army if clerics order

Iraq's Sadr to disband Mehdi Army if clerics order

www.reuters.com

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr is ready to disband his militia if Shi'ite religious leaders demand it, his aides said on Monday, a surprising offer given renewed clashes between his fighters and security forces.

The news came after Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who launched a crackdown on Sadr's Mehdi Army late last month, ordered the cleric to disband his militia or face exclusion from the Iraqi political process.

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I dont see anything surprising in here.

In Basra troops start fighting when Al Sadr give his order, and they stop, when he give his order.

Mahdi Army give their clear message to all, they are not some independent gangs, and revolutionaries, they are army, and they do have order.

Now he shows with clear message, that he is not the next Saddam, a dictator put in place, but leader who respect greater causes, and listen his superiors.

He follow the same orders, than his troops is expected to follow.

I think that Al Sadr will have long period at place of chief of staff, if he is not to be assassinated some day...

www.reuters.com
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