Iraq's Sadr bloc to withdraw from gov't

    BAGHDAD, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's political bloc of anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr will withdraw from the government on Monday, a lawmaker from the group told Xinhua on Sunday.

    Six ministers from Sadr group will officially withdraw from the government on Monday to protest the arrest of Mahdi Army leaders and urge for a timetable for U.S. troops' withdrawal, Salah Hassan Issa said by telephone.  Full story

U.S. military: Iraq radical cleric Sadr in Iran

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military spokesman said that Iraqi radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has left Iraqi to neighboringIran, although his supporters denied.

    "We will acknowledge that he is not in the country and all indications are in fact that he is in Iran and he left last month," Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told reporters.  Full story