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Iraq
Sadr's bloc to quit Iraq government
2007-04-16
The political movement of fiery Iraqi Shi'ite cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr said on Sunday it would withdraw from the government on Monday to press its demand for a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

Officials from the movement, which holds six ministries and a quarter of the parliamentary seats in Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite Alliance, said the formal announcement would be made on Monday at a news conference. The move is unlikely to bring down the government, but it could create tensions in Maliki's fractious Shi'ite-led government of national unity at a time when it is trying to heal sectarian divisions that threaten to tip Iraq into civil war.

"We are going to declare our withdrawal from government because the prime minister does not want to make a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq," said one official in Sadr's movement who declined to be identified.

There was no immediate comment from the government.
"Adios!"
Two other Sadr officials confirmed the intention to pull out of the government but stressed the movement would continue to give "cautious" backing to a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in the capital. The Sadrists will remain in parliament.
Posted by:Elmavith Fluck6403

#12  " Will the government be able to legally function without that section of the population being represented? It can't be as simple as "don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out". This guy isn't a total idiot or he wouldn't be where he is. He just has to be a first-rate a$$hole."

They have 30 seats, IIUC the Maliki govt still has a clear majority, though its more reliant on the remaining coalition partners now.
Posted by: liberalhawk   2007-04-16 15:25  

#11  I'm with Vader on this; litter the streets with spent taters. Who would notice ?
Posted by: wxjames   2007-04-16 13:22  

#10  Buh-bye.
Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305   2007-04-16 12:45  

#9  They gonna move to Iran and hang out with the boss?
Posted by: tu3031   2007-04-16 11:29  

#8  If he leaves, can we whack him and his cronies while he is out of government? I mean, the diplomatic immunity no longer applies because they aren't part of the government, right?
Posted by: DarthVader   2007-04-16 11:11  

#7  This sounds like the situation in Italy or Israel when one of the 236 coalition partners pulls out. It depends on whether the remaining members have a majority.
Posted by: Jackal   2007-04-16 08:33  

#6  Note to Maliki: Change the locks!
Posted by: doc   2007-04-16 06:50  

#5  The Sadrists will remain in parliament

all bluster.
Posted by: Frank G   2007-04-16 05:24  

#4  Not unexpected; the movement has shown quite consistently of 'pulling out all the stops', in their continuing road to distraction and disruption. "Tater" ruling from absentia can only rally his minions as he wait for that fateful date of reconciling with an inevitable hellfire missile!
Posted by: smn   2007-04-16 03:44  

#3  Will the government be able to legally function without that section of the population being represented? It can't be as simple as "don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out". This guy isn't a total idiot or he wouldn't be where he is. He just has to be a first-rate a$$hole.
Posted by: gorb   2007-04-16 03:32  

#2  Good riddance to bad rubbish. We should have cancelled this prick at the first battle of Najaf.
Posted by: RWV   2007-04-16 02:46  

#1  If he's not part of the "political solution" can the U.S. finally the fucker now?
Posted by: Mike N.   2007-04-16 00:53  

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