Sadr group sets conditions for turning into a civilian current
By Khoshnevisan
Baghdad, 2008 Aug 8, IRIB
Sadr Group has issued a statement, noting that its turn into a civilian current is conditioned upon the pullout of occupation forces from Iraq.
The Spokesman for Sadr Group Sheikh Salah Al-Abidi has said that the continuation of ceasefire will be feasible if the US would not sign a security agreement with the Iraqi government and would set a timetable for the withdrawal of US occupation forces from Iraq.
The Sadr Group spokesman also reported on replacement of the Mahdi Army by a new cultural group, but emphasized that the military core of this group would remain in place until the state of the security agreement is specified.
Sadr Group is an influential Shiite group, which is seriously opposed to occupation of Iraq.
Meanwhile, in protest to the lack of a timetable for withdrawal of US occupation forces from Iraq, this group pulled its ministers out of Maleki administration, last year. However, 30 Sadr Group representatives remain in Iraqi Parliament and this Group has tried to help this country's political process. In fact, the military operations of the Mahdi Army were suspended within the framework of two six-month phases in support for the Iraqi government and this country's political process. But, the US occupation forces continued their provocative acts against Sadr Group, while targeting and besieging Sadr City on a number of occasions.
Meanwhile, Head of Sadr Group, Moqtada Sadr, has called on Maleki administration not to seal a security agreement with the US. There is widespread and growing opposition to conclusion of a security agreement with the US in Iraq's political, social and religious scenes. Even, the Iraqi government has called on Washington to set a timetable for pullout of US forces from Iraq.
This call by the Iraqi Premier Nouri Al-Maleki is the result of Iraqis public demand, while Sadr Group also decisively calls for an end to occupation of Iraq.
Sadr Group, in addition to other Iraqi political and religious groups and figures know that US intends to continue dominating and occupying Iraq. The conditions set by Sadr Group for turning into a civilian current show the emphasis of this group on maintenance of Iraq's independence and national sovereignty, and reinforcement of Iraqi government and political process.
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