Muqtada al-Sadr orders followers to put down their weapons

[ECH1969]

Muqtada al Sadr, the firebrand Shiite Muslim cleric whose Mahdi Army is arguably Iraq's most powerful armed group, has ordered his followers to put down their weapons temporarily, three of his aides told McClatchy Newspapers on Friday.

"The American and the Iraqi governments are starting to feel how powerful he is getting. It's obvious that both of them are fed up," said Mithal Alusi, a secular Shiite member of parliament. "That's why the Sadrists are playing a tactical game: to quiet the attacks and buy time."

Analysts also think that Sadr is having trouble controlling his organization. Some militant members have criticized him for joining the political process last year, accusing him of straying from his pledge to reject the American-created government and rid Iraq of foreign forces. A senior U.S. military official said earlier this week that at least six former Mahdi Army leaders no longer answered to Sadr. Those leaders now are members of rival groups that are competing for power, popularity and funding from the same sources as Sadr.

"What you do see over time is that you'll see guys, who, for whatever reason, become motivated to become more militant, and the militant elements find the political framework confining," the U.S. military official said, speaking only on condition of anonymity because he was giving confidential information. "I'll tell you as time goes on, you're going to continue to see elements break off the organization and become sort of these semi-independent or independent players, but none of them remain independent for long. They all find a sponsor."

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/15642340.htm

[NOLADEM]

1. Simple strategy...he is in a war of attition with a more powerful foe n/t