Shi’ite cleric threatens to end Mahdi army ceasefire

SHI’ITE cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened yesterday to lift a seven month freeze on his Mahdi army militia if the Iraqi government does not halt attacks on his followers or set a timetable for a US withdrawal.

The statement came hours before the top two US officials in Iraq — General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker — planned to brief Congress on the situation in Iraq and prospects for withdrawing American troops.

“I call on the Iraqi government, if it exists, to work for the protection of the Iraqi people, stop the bloodshed and the abuse of its honour,” said al-Sadr. “If the public interest dictates the lifting of the freeze to achieve our goals, beliefs, religion, principles and patriotism we shall do that later.”

US and Iraqi troops stepped up their pressure on Mahdi army militiamen in their Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City, where fighting broke out again yesterday after Iraqi units tried to enter the area, a police officer said.

Explosions could be heard across the capital, apparently coming from the neighbourhood in eastern Baghdad. Low-flying jets circled the centre of the capital several hours before sunrise.

The two sides were using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, said the police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information to the media.

Fifteen civilians were wounded in the clashes, he said.

Using typical rhetoric to refer to US forces, al-Sadr said the government should “protect the Iraqi people from the booby traps and American militias” and “demand the withdrawal of the occupier or a schedule for its withdrawal from our holy land”.

Al-Sadr has extended an order made last year to his Mahdi army fighters to stand down through August, but he warned he could lift the unilateral ceasefire if the Iraqi government fails to provide the public with security and stability.

Al-Sadr also called off a “million-strong” march planned for today in Baghdad after followers in Shi’ite areas south of Baghdad complained that Iraqi security forces prevented them from travelling to the capital.

“I call on the beloved Iraqi people who want to demonstrate against the occupation to postpone their outing for I fear for them and I want to spare their blood,” he said in the statement. The demonstration was supposed to mark the 5th anniversary of the capture of Baghdad by invading US forces.