Sadr ministers quit Iraq government over U.S. troops

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/international/ticker/detail/Sadr_ministers_quit_Iraq_government_over_U_S_troops.html?siteSect=143&sid=7717534&cKey=1176757751000

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his ministers to quit Iraq's coalition government on Monday in protest at Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's refusal to set a timetable for U.S. troops to withdraw.

Sadr's movement, which draws its support mainly from Iraq's Shi'ite poor, has six ministers and a quarter of the parliamentary seats in Maliki's fractious Shi'ite Alliance, an umbrella grouping of Shi'ite Islamist parties.

The move exposes cracks in the alliance, which has sought to present a united front despite tensions below the surface, but it is unlikely to significantly weaken the government since Sadrists do not hold key cabinet posts.

In fresh violence, insurgents killed five American soldiers on Monday, including three in Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Around 60 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq this month, putting April on course to be one of the deadliest for U.S. forces in many months.

[cyberpj]

1. They're smart enough to say they want a "timetable for withdrawal" to help US out. nt

[panader0]

2. The "surge" can't keep al-Sadr's ministers from resigning.

This will take the shine off of bush's new surge.

[Joe for Clark]

3. Big f-ng surprise.

Like they had a choice or something??

It is really bad there man - you think that little prick is a catalyst - more like a result.

That it might weaken the government - WHAT GOVERNMENT????

I think we opened Pandora's box here - And we can't stuff it back in fast enough.

Joe

[HCE SuiGeneris]

4. Didn't chimperor say we would leave when asked?

Sorta looks more and more like an occupying force, no? Unf'nbelievable. :mad:

[magellan]

5. Very bad news

The Sadrists may not have held key cabinet posts, but al Sadr commands the support of a significant portion of the Shia population, second only to al Sistani. If Maliki can't woo al Sadr's ministers back into the fold then things will get a whole lot uglier.

And needless to say, their official opposition only further de-legitimizes and destabilizes Bush**'s client regime in Baghdad.

Eeesh. :scared: