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Sadrâs Military To Withdraw... If US Withdraws First
This isnât even close to passing the laugh test...The militia of rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will end their armed presence in Najaf and Kerbala as soon as it is clear that U.S. troops have withdrawn from the holy Iraqi cities, a top aide to Sadr said on Saturday. "We are prepared to end our armed presence the moment the occupation forces leave the holy cities and give guarantees of that," Qais al-Khazali told reporters. "There are no guarantees up to now that the occupying forces will not go back to the holy shrines." ...and I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale. Any takers? On Friday, U.S. troops pulled back from the center of Kerbala after days of heavy fighting with militiamen. U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said on Saturday the troops were repositioning and not withdrawing. Moving in, perhaps? Dan Senor, spokesman for the U.S.-led administration, said there had been no contact with Sadr, who the authorities want in connection with the murder of another Shiâite cleric. "There is not any...truce to my knowledge," he said. "If he is prepared to submit himself to justice and if he is prepared to disband and disarm his illegal militia, we are prepared to reach a peaceful resolution to this." Earlier in the week Iraqâs most revered Shiâite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on both U.S. forces and Sadrâs Mehdi Army to withdraw from the holy cities. The U.S. military has repeatedly said it will not negotiate with Sadr, who is wanted in connection with the murder of a rival cleric in Najaf last year. Guess that means ânoâ, Sadr. Posted by: Raj 2004-05-22 |
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