Monday, February 26, 2007
Al-Sadr criticises Baghdad security plan
Security, Politics
(Al Jazeera) Moqtada al-Sadr has bitterly criticised the continuation of car bombs in Iraq and withdrew his support for a security crackdown in Baghdad. The move by al-Sadr, an anti-American cleric, is a blow for Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, who had expressed optimism about the US-backed offensive. Until now, al-Sadr has supported the plan, seen as a last ditch attempt to halt all-out civil war in Iraq.
Al-Sadr said the crackdown would not work because US forces were involved. "There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the occupiers," said an aide to Sadr, reading a statement from the cleric in front of thousands of chanting supporters in the firebrand's stronghold of al-Sadr City. "(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of thousands of innocent Iraqi people."
Al-Sadr led his Mahdi Army militia in two uprisings against US forces in 2004. The militia has avoided any confrontation with US forces this time and there was no indication in al-Sadr's statement that this position would change. They control the College of Administration and Economics, where most of Sunday's deaths occured, the day after al-Maliki said sectarian killings had fallen as a result of the security crackdown.
Al-Sadr said the crackdown would not work because US forces were involved. "There is no benefit in this security plan because it is controlled by the occupiers," said an aide to Sadr, reading a statement from the cleric in front of thousands of chanting supporters in the firebrand's stronghold of al-Sadr City. "(The United States) is watching car bombs explode, taking the souls of thousands of innocent Iraqi people."
Al-Sadr led his Mahdi Army militia in two uprisings against US forces in 2004. The militia has avoided any confrontation with US forces this time and there was no indication in al-Sadr's statement that this position would change. They control the College of Administration and Economics, where most of Sunday's deaths occured, the day after al-Maliki said sectarian killings had fallen as a result of the security crackdown.
Labels: College of Administration and Economics, Moqtada Al-Sadr, operation Imposing Law
