Sadr Heightens Position Suspending Battle

Iraq continues to burn and tranquility is still a distant dream in the mistrustful political atmosphere. But definitely the entire political development has heightened the position of Mr. Moktada al-Sadr, the Shiite cleric who on Sunday called his followers to stop fighting in Basra and put forward his proposals in the form of demanding concessions to the Government of Iraq. What is most striking is that the entire incident has proved the Iraqi Prime Minister Mr. Maliki’s position is highly unbalanced and in a fix, moreover has to turn to Mr. Sadr, a longtime rival, for a way out.

In the meanwhile there have been serious attempts of negotiations with Mr. Sadr but the long dissensions among the government representatives has set in the rot. However, the whole of Iraq it still in between sectarian strifes and in a combative mood against the presence of American and British troops in the country. The Government’s inability to quell the rebellion has also put the nation’s future in utter darkness.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/31/world/middleeast/31iraq.html?em&ex=1207108800&en=28e2db7d3297287b&ei=5087%0A