Spokeswoman: Sadr bloc returning to parliament

At a news conference in late November, 36 lawmakers and Cabinet ministers loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr suspended participation in the government

BAGHDAD, Jan 19 (KUNA) -- A parliament member who represents Al-Sadr's bloc, Falah Shanshal, announced on Friday that the coalition's six members boycotting the parliament would re-join the assembly on Monday.

Shanshal, in remarks to KUNA, said the MPs would resume attending the parliamentary sessions as of Monday, despite arrest, earlier today, of Sheikh Abdel Hadi Al-Diraji, who was was taken by American and Iraqi forces.

The nabbed man is a close aide to the chief of the movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr.

Shanshal called for releasing Al-Diraji, adding that the troops detained two of his guards and shot dead a guard of a mosque in the operation.

He accused the government of breaching a previous deal to halt "attacks targeting Al-Sadr's movement." The legislator said the chief of the movement ordered members of the organization to practise restraint and refrain from falling prey to a scheme to embroil them in armed confrontations on the streets with the government forces.

From KUNA

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