Al-Sadr followers remove weapons from shrine
The move came as al-Sadr’s followers were working out the hand-over of control of the shrine to Iraq’s highest Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, who is in London recovering from medical treatment.
Al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army have used the walled compound as a stronghold and refuge - and turning it over would likely mean an end to their revolt.