Moqtada al-Sadr

15 June 2008 -- A spokesman for Iraq's radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says his movement will not directly participate in provincial elections scheduled for October 1.

Sadr's spokesman said Sunday that the movement instead will support "technocrats and independent politicians" in the polls.

He said the movement will not directly contest the elections because it does not want to be part of sectarian divisions.

Iraq's 18 provinces will choose governing councils in the elections, which Washington says will help to stabilize the country by giving more power to local leaders.

Unresolved debate over a draft election law could postpone the vote. The law is expected to ban parties with militias from contesting elections.    » read more »

21 May 2008 -- Iraqi police say at least 11 people have been killed by gunfire after a roadside bombing near Sadr City, a Shi'ite militia stronghold in Baghdad.

Local officials say the gunfire erupted Wednesday after roadside bombs exploded near a joint U.S.-Iraqi patrol in the Obeidi neighborhood. The U.S. military, however, says none of its troops were involved.

Sadr City, Baghdad: Photo by James Gordon (CC)

Sadr City itself remained calm, a day after some 10,000 Iraqi troops began an operation aimed at bringing government control over the Shi'ite stronghold.    » read more »

20 May 2008 -- Iraqi forces have moved into Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood in an operation aimed at bringing government control over the Shi'ite militia stronghold.

Iraq security officials say they launched "Operation Peace" early Tuesday to try to stabilize and secure the area.

Iraqi and US soldiers in Sadr City, Baghdad, April 2008: U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

A military spokesman says hundreds of troops have deployed in several sectors of the city. He says no violence has been reported.

The operation is in line with a truce reached earlier this month between Iraq's government and Shi'ite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.    » read more »

BAGHDAD, April 8, 2008 – Days after intense fighting and the March 30 call to peace from Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers patrol the outskirts of Sadr City, a district of the Iraqi capital, ensuring the safety of the city’s residents.

Sadr City has been the backdrop of many conflicts for coalition forces since the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

U.S. Army soldiers on patrol in Sadr City pass open sewer: Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti

It’s the poorest of all Baghdad districts and historically has been a safe haven for terrorists.    » read more »

07 April 2008 -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki says the movement of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will be barred from taking part in the political process unless it disbands its Mahdi Army.

Mr. Maliki said in an interview broadcast on CNN Monday that participation in upcoming elections is also dependent on the disbanding of the Shi'ite militia.

U.S. Army Soldiers outside Sadr City, Iraq: U.S. Army Soldiers at Joint Security Station Oubaidy located just outside Sadr City, Iraq, after a series of rocket and mortar attacks. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason T. Bailey (CC)    » read more »