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

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered heads of his Mehdi Army militia to leave Iraq and asked the government to arrest "outlaws" under a U.S.-backed crackdown, Iraq's president said on Thursday.

President Jalal Talabani made the remarks after Iraq closed its borders with Iran and Syria and as U.S. and Iraqi troops tightened their grip on Baghdad, searching neighborhoods and setting up checkpoints that searched even official convoys.

Talabani said he was unaware of Sadr's whereabouts. The U.S. military has said he is in Iran, but his aides insist he is in Iraq's holy Shi'ite city Najaf. An Iraqi government official said he was in Tehran, but only for a short visit.

"I think many of his top Mehdi Army officials have been ordered to leave Iraq to make the mission of the security forces easier," the president was quoted as saying in a statement from his office. It added Sadr supported the crackdown and had given the government the go-ahead to arrest any "outlaws."

Read the rest at Yahoo News

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:
Iraqi minister arrested over Sadr links, accused of funnelling millions to Mahdi Army

Related Link:
Report: Baghdad 'crackdown' begins

Related Link:
Sadr aide killed in combined U.S.-Iraqi raid on home; Spokesman labels it 'assasination'

Related Link:
Sources: Baghdad offensive set to begin on a scale 'unlike anything this city has seen'

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

Related Link:
Perspective: Baghdad's Ground Zero

Related Link:
Perspective: Shiite Crackdown May Be Risky

Related Link:
Sadr bloc returns to parliament after demands met for consideration of U.S. withdrawal, end of UN mandate

Related Link:
Sadr Spokesman: U.S. out to provoke armed confrontation

Related Link:
Sadr: No resistance during holy month of Muharram

Related Link:
U.S., Iraqi forces arrest key Sadr lieutenant Darraji

Related Link:
Sources: Mahdi Army Expressing Siege Mentality

Related Link:
Intelligence Officials Predict Sadr Militia Will Lower Profile in Baghdad

Related Link:
Iraqi Gov't: 'Several dozen' Mahdi senior members arrested in 'past few weeks'

Related Link:
Perspective: Mahdi Army lowers its profile, for now

Related Link:
Iraqi Sources: Baghdad push to last 'at least' 6 months; Sistani, Sadr support plan

Related Link:
Sources: U.S., Iraqi Gov't in dispute over Washington war plan; Iraqis insist on lead

Related Link:
Sources: Bush okays targeting al-Sadr

Related Link:
Perspective: Battling With Sadr for Iraqi Soldiers' Hearts

Related Link:
Maliki chooses Qanbar as Baghdad commander over reported U.S. objection

Related Link:
Pespective: The new plan: fight the Mahdi army toe to toe, hope Iraqi army holds