Muqrada al-Sadr (file photo) (AFP)
February 15, 2007 -- An Iraqi official today backed U.S. military reports that radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iran, but denied suggestions that he fled Iraq fearing arrest.
Sami al-Askari, an adviser to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, said al-Sadr is only visiting Iran and will return to Iraq soon.
Meanwhile today, the U.S. military said Iraq has begun closing its borders with Iran and Syria as part of a security crackdown aimed at stopping the movement of militants and weapons into the country.
(Reuters, AFP)
Meanwhile today, the U.S. military said Iraq has begun closing its borders with Iran and Syria as part of a security crackdown aimed at stopping the movement of militants and weapons into the country.
(Reuters, AFP)
Muqtada Al-Sadr
Muqtada Al-Sadr
A RADICAL CLERIC. Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is a key figure in Iraq. He heads the Imam Al-Mahdi Army militia and a political bloc that is prominent in parliament and the government. His ties to Iran have also provoked concerns in some quarters.
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