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Al-Sadr pulls off fighters

BAGHDAD: Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said on Sunday he was pulling his fighters off the streets nationwide and called on the government to stop raids against his followers and free them from prison.

The Iraqi government quickly welcomed Mr. al-Sadr’s apparent move to resolve a widening conflict with his movement sparked on Tuesday by operations against his backers in the oil-rich southern city of Basra.

Mr. al-Sadr’s nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf and broadcast through loudspeakers on Shia mosques. It said the first point was: “taking gunmen off the streets in Basra and elsewhere.”

He also demanded that the Iraqi government stop “haphazard raids” and release security detenus who haven’t been charged, two issues cited by his movement as reasons for fighting the government.

Followers handed out sweets in Baghdad’s main Mahdi Army militia stronghold of Sadr City. — AP

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