Radical Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr May Lift Ceasefire
BAGHDAD " Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr may let a six-month cease-fire expire as soon as Saturday, a move that could send his Shiite militia fighters back to the streets and jeopardize security gains that have led to a sharp decline in violence[/b]
Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, said that if the cleric failed to issue a statement by Saturday saying the cease-fire was extended, "then that means the freeze is over." Al-Sadr's followers would be free to resume attacks.
While the U.S. has welcomed the cease-fire, it also has insisted on continuing to stage raids against what it calls Iranian-backed breakaway factions of the Mahdi Army militia " moves that have angered the cleric's followers.
A Sunni parliament member, Asmaa al-Dulaimi, said if the truce were broken it would hurt the prospects for national reconciliation and "further deteriorate the security situation nationwide."
RE: Radical Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr May Lift Ceasefire
"Bring it on"
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Radical Shiite Cleric Muqtada al-Sadr May Lift Ceasefire
