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Article: Cleric suspends Mahdi Army but impact remains unclear
- Article from:
- Oakland Tribune
- Article date:
- August 30, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2007 Oakland Tribune. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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BAGHDAD -- Firebrand Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr
announced Wednesday that he's temporarily suspending the activities
of his feared Mahdi Army militia so that the organization can be
restructured.
The announcement, a day after Mahdi Army members were accused of
inciting clashes in Karbala that killed at least 52 people, seemed
to be a startling admission that the militia, which twice fought
brutal uprisings against U.S. troops and has been blamed for
thousands of death-squad killings, was no longer under Sadr's
control.
American officials in Baghdad and Washington greeted word of the
suspension cautiously, calling it an encouraging sign but saying it
would take time to determine ...