It makes one wonder if Al-Sadr actually spoke to Allawi
Yesterday's Meet the Press statement was disavowed by Al-Sadr…reannouncing previous announcements…
You know, given that his crew was hand picked by the USofA it wouldn'r surprise me to find them as mendacious as the Bushstas.
Anyway…
Iraq Militant Cleric Vows to Keep Fighting
Iraqi Militant Shiite Cleric Al-Sadr Pledges to Continue Fighting, Despite Power Handover
The Associated Press
BAGHDAD, Iraq July 5, 2004 — Militant Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who led an April uprising that left hundreds dead, called Iraq's new interim government "illegitimate" and pledged to resist occupation forces to the "last drop of blood."
On Monday, a government spokesman said Iraq arrested in May four men accused of involvement in the beheading of American businessman Nicholas Berg.
The arrests had been previously announced, and it was not immediately clear why the government announced them again Monday.
The cleric's comments apparently reversed earlier conciliatory statements he made to the government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. Members of al-Sadr's movement had also suggested they might transform their militia into a political party.
"We pledge to the Iraqi people and the world to continue resisting oppression and occupation to our last drop of blood," al-Sadr said in a statement distributed Sunday by his office in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, where his al-Mahdi militia battled American troops until a cease-fire last month.
"Resistance is a legitimate right and not a crime to be punished," he said.
