NAJAF, Iraq - A radical Shiite cleric has pulled his militiamen out of police stations and government facilities in this holy city, partially meeting a U.S. demand for ending the standoff in southern Iraq, cleric's represenative said Monday.
| "Boss, the jig's up! We gotta go!" |
Police on Monday were back on the streets and in their stations for the first time in days since the al-Mahdi Army militia of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took control of the facilities last week. "Al-Sayed al-Sadr issued instructions for his followers to leave the sites of police and the government," said lawyer Murtada al-Janabi, one of al-Sadr's representatives in negotiations with Iraqi Shiite political parties on ending the U.S. standoff with the cleric and his forces.
| "C'mon, Boss, lookit the size of that tank barrel!" |
One of the U.S. demands in the talks was the return of police and government control in all three cities al-Sadr's militia took over, Najaf, Kufa and Karbala, according to negotiators. The Americans, who are not taking part in the talks, also demanded the dissolution in the al-Mahdi Army.
| "We gotta lie low a while, Boss. Besides [sniff] we all need showers. Let's go home!" |
| "Boss? Boss? Hey, where did he go?" |
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