Sadr Postpones Big Baghdad Protest.

This is from the NYtimes.
Given that the U.S. and Maliki seem hell bent on provoking what will be a limited civil war Sadr was probably wise to cancel a demonstration that would see many arrested. The Mahdi Army will be busy fending off a campaign against the Mahdi army in Sadr city. The supposed cease fire does not seem to be holding. Sadr city is sealed off to vehicular traffic. You can expect more U.S. casualties for sure and many more Iraqi casualties.



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April 9, 2008
Militant Cleric Postpones Big Baghdad Protest
By STEPHEN FARRELL
BAGHDAD — Moktada al-Sadr, the anti-American Shiite cleric in Iraq whose Mahdi Army militia has been engaged in fierce clashes with Iraqi and American troops in Baghdad over the past week, on Tuesday postponed a huge demonstration in the capital less than 24 hours before it was to take place.

In a press release distributed by his political organization in Baghdad, a Sadr spokesman said the planned Wednesday protest, which Mr. Sadr had proclaimed would draw 1 million participants to demonstrate anti-American opposition among Iraqis, had been postponed for unspecified “safety reasons.” No new date was set.

The postponement was announced as Iraqi and American military forces have been tightening a cordon around Sadr City, the vast Shiite district of Baghdad that is Mr. Sadr’s base of support, and where fighting has raged in recent days and where dozens of Iraqis have been killed.

At least three American soldiers were killed Monday in separate attacks in Baghdad, the American military announced late Monday without specifying where they were killed or who might have been responsible. At least 10 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Sunday.

Acting on the orders of Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, Iraqi security squads have been stopping young Shiite males from entering Baghdad at checkpoints around the city’s perimeter, Iraqi witnesses said Tuesday. They said the checkpoint sentries have been singling out men aged 15 to 35 and sometimes detaining them.

Mr. Maliki has warned Mr. Sadr’s organization that it must disarm the Mahdi Army militia, the largest Shiite militia in Iraq, or his representatives would not be allowed to participate in future elections. The ultimatum reflects the growing political tension between Mr. Maliki and Mr. Sadr, who represent rival political factions among Iraq’s majority Shiites.

The tension between the two escalated in late March when Mr. Maliki ordered the Iraqi military to occupy the southern port city of Basra, where Mr. Sadr’s militia had taken control.