Fiery cleric invited to talks

SHI’ITE Muslim firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr has been invited to the July political conference to select a national council that will advise Iraq’s interim government, an Iraqi official said yesterday.

“An invitation has been sent to Moqtada Sadr,” said Fuad Maasum, the chair of the committee preparing the conference.

“Moqtada Sadr has begun to transform his militia into a political organisation, which is considered a positive step and his movement has roots in the country,” Maasum said.