Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Anti-American Shi'ite Cleric Al-Sadr Returns to Iraq

   VOA News 05 January 2011
   Radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (file photo)

Photo: AP

   Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr (file photo)

   Iraqi  officials  say anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has
   returned to Iraq, after a nearly three-year absence.
   Sadrist  officials  say the radical and influential figure returned to
   his family home in the city of Najaf on Wednesday.
   Al-Sadr  has  been living in Iran, and it is unclear how long he plans
   to stay in Iraq.
   The  cleric emerged as a key U.S. foe after the 2003 invasion of Iraq,
   leading  two  uprisings carried out by his Mehdi Army against American
   forces.
   Al-Sadr's  political  movement  was a key player following last year's
   disputed elections in Iraq.
   The  cleric's  bloc  worked  out  a  deal  to be part of the new Iraqi
   government,  and  its  support  helped  Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
   secure a second term.
   The Sadrists won 39 out of 325 seats in parliament in the March, 2010,
   elections.

   Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
   NEW: Follow our Middle East reports on [1]Twitter
   and discuss them on our [2]Facebook page.

References

   1. http://twitter.com/VOAMidEast
   2. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?    v=wall

.