Sunday, September 24, 2006
al-Sadr tells followers to engage in a 'peaceful' war
Politics
The Shiite radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr seems to be willing to compromise and is urging his followers not to use force in opposing the Iraqi government and the presence of U.S. troops. Sadr commands one of Iraq’s most powerful and lethal militias in Iraq and has so far waged two major uprisings against U.S. troops and numerous mutinies against the government.
His military wing, the al-Mahdi Army, easily defeated Iraqi government and security forces in the southern city of Diwaniya early this month. The troops sought U.S. troops’ help to regain some semblance of control. Sadr said his call for comprise and civil resistance was for the sake of sparing Iraqi blood. But still he had harsh words for the United States.
His military wing, the al-Mahdi Army, easily defeated Iraqi government and security forces in the southern city of Diwaniya early this month. The troops sought U.S. troops’ help to regain some semblance of control. Sadr said his call for comprise and civil resistance was for the sake of sparing Iraqi blood. But still he had harsh words for the United States.
COMMENT: Al-Sadr's statement follows a deadly bombing in Sadr city on Saturday carried out by a Sunni extremist group, Jamaat Jund al-Sahaba (Soldiers of the Prophet's Companions). The attack was possibly in retribution for attacks by the Brigade of Two Sadrs, a Shia group that attacked Sunni homes and mosques on Friday. The group handed out leaflets saying that for each Shia killed, 10 Sunnis would die. There are critics who say that splinter groups have formed from the Mahdi Militia and al-Sadr is losing control over them. He has previously apologised and called for calm in violent incidents involving the Madhi Militia. Because al-Sadr is almost a recluse and rarely speaks out, and when he does, his messages are usually emotional causing his followers to listen to him, his hope may be that he will be able to maintain some control over the situation by making this statement. COMMENT ENDS.
