Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
April 25, 2008

Radical Shi'ite Cleric Urges Followers to Battle US, Not Iraqi Forces 
----------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1C0593B:A6F02AD83191E160BFD3FF1F574631E921A4E82C900CD027& 
Militias loyal to Sadr battling coalition, Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City district since late March 






Moqtada al-Sadr (file photo)

Radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr says his recent call for "open war" is only against U.S. forces, not the Iraqi government.

In a statement Friday, Sadr urged his Mahdi Army militia to stop the bloodshed against fellow Iraqis.

Militias loyal to Sadr have been battling coalition and Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City district since late March. More than 300 people have been killed in those clashes.

In violence overnight in Sadr City, Iraqi hospital officials say at least seven people were killed and more than 30 wounded.

Friday, the U.S. military says it detained more than 12 suspected terrorists, during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq forces.

One of those arrested is allegedly the leader of a large bombing cell. Another of the detainees was wanted for allegedly being a key distributor of explosives used against Iraqi security and coalition forces.Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.



.