Sadr ministers to quit Iraqi government

BAGHDAD – Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his ministers to quit Iraq’s government yesterday in protest at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s refusal to set a timetable for a US troop withdrawal.

Sadr’s populist movement, which draws its support mainly from Iraq’s Shi’ite poor, holds six ministries and a quarter of the parliamentary seats in Maliki’s fractious Shi’ite Alliance, a coalition of Shi’ite Islamist parties. While Sadr was instrumental in Maliki becoming prime minister last year, the move is unlikely to significantly weaken the government since Sadr’s movement does not hold any key cabinet portfolios.It could actually help Maliki by giving him a freer hand to pursue his political policies.At the same time, there will be concerns about keeping the anti-American cleric and militia leader engaged in the political process, even though the Sadrists said they would remain in parliament.Washington has called the Mehdi Army, a Shi’ite militia that claims loyalty to Sadr, the biggest threat to Iraq’s security.The Sadrists accused Maliki of ‘ignoring the will of the people’ over the timetable issue and also failing to improve basic services and effectively deal with deteriorating security.Baghdad’s Sadr City slum is the cleric’s main powerbase.Maliki said he saw no need to set a timetable as his government was working to build up Iraq’s security forces as quickly as possible so US-led forces could leave.Nampa-ReutersWhile Sadr was instrumental in Maliki becoming prime minister last year, the move is unlikely to significantly weaken the government since Sadr’s movement does not hold any key cabinet portfolios.It could actually help Maliki by giving him a freer hand to pursue his political policies.At the same time, there will be concerns about keeping the anti-American cleric and militia leader engaged in the political process, even though the Sadrists said they would remain in parliament.Washington has called the Mehdi Army, a Shi’ite militia that claims loyalty to Sadr, the biggest threat to Iraq’s security.The Sadrists accused Maliki of ‘ignoring the will of the people’ over the timetable issue and also failing to improve basic services and effectively deal with deteriorating security.Baghdad’s Sadr City slum is the cleric’s main powerbase.Maliki said he saw no need to set a timetable as his government was working to build up Iraq’s security forces as quickly as possible so US-led forces could leave.Nampa-Reuters