Iraqi Shi'ites demand release of Sadr aide

[sabra]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GRA136807.htm

Iraqi Shi'ites demand release of Sadr aide

BAGHDAD, Sept 21 (Reuters) - Iraq's normally fractious Shi'ite political parties united on Thursday to criticise Washington and demand the release of a top aide to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr after he was arrested by U.S. forces.

Salah al-Obeydi was among a group arrested overnight by U.S. and Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf, Sadr's followers said. U.S. troops did not immediately comment on the arrests.

In a rare show of unity, leaders of rival Shi'ite groups stood beside a Sadrist member of parliament at a brief news conference in Baghdad as he denounced the U.S. raid and called for the defence minister, a Sunni, to explain the arrest.

"We demand their immediate release and an explanation from the defence minister over the involvement of Iraqi soldiers in this operation," Falah Hasan Shanshal said.

[CJCRANE]

1. Wonder

if this is a distraction?

They ran out of al-Qaeda #2's so went after Sadr's people instead.

[Drum]

2. A brilliant tactic, W.

Gradually re-awakening the Iraqi's unity government, making sure that everyone is denouncing the US. Capture and kill, rinse and repeat. :eyes: