Sources: Rice, in surprise visit, criticizes focus on Sunnis in crackdown

Secretary of State Rice meeting with Prime Minister Maliki today. Rice was said to be frustrated that no action had been taken against Moqtada al-Sadr and the Mahdi Army. The source said she was told that Sadr was cooperating and that Maliki did not want to 'waste our resources in a place that's stable'. Maliki and Sadr are political allies.

BAGHDAD, Iraq Feb 17, 2007 (AP)— Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Iraqi leaders Saturday that the Baghdad security operation needs to "rise above sectarianism" and noted that no U.S. or Iraqi forces have yet moved into the capital's major Shiite militia stronghold, an Iraqi official said.

The official, who was familiar with the discussions, said Rice told Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that the initial stage of the crackdown, which began Wednesday, appeared to focus on Sunni areas and had left Sadr City, stronghold of the Mahdi Army militia, nearly untouched.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to release the information to the media.

Read the rest at ABC News

Related Link:
Talabani: Sadr orders militia heads to leave Iraq 'to make the mission of the security forces easier'

Related Link:
Maliki Aide: Sadr just on 'short visit' to Iran, says U.S. military reports are an 'unjustifiable provocation'

Related Link:
Aides say Sadr still in Iraq

Related Link:
Report: Sadr left Iraq weeks ago, now living in Iran

Related Link:
Source: Baghdad death squad leaders have fled to Iran with Maliki encouragement

Related Link:
Sadr movement leader endorses new security plan

Related Link:
Report: Sadr city militias seek peace deal