Report: Sadr movement ministers officially withdraw from Maliki cabinet

Prime Minister al-Maliki at a press conference with Moqtada al-Sadr late last year. Although the Sadrists are reported to have withdrawn from the cabinet, the party is remaining a part of the Shi'ite alliance in parliament, leaving Maliki in place as Prime Minister.

Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr pulled his six ministers out of Iraq's beleaguered coalition government Monday, upping the political stakes after a weekend of savage sectarian violence.

The Shiite hardliner -- who has not been seen in public since October -- was angered last week when street protests failed to persuade Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to set a date for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Lawmaker Nassar al-Rubaie from Sadr's movement, flanked by allies from his 32-strong parliamentary bloc, announced the withdrawal at a Baghdad news conference, reading a statement from the cleric.

"The six ministries shall be handed over to the government itself in the hope that this government will give these responsibilities to independent bodies who wish to serve the interest of the people and the country," it said.

Rubaie explained the reasons for quitting the government.

"The main reasons are the prime minister's lack of response to the demands of nearly one million people in Najaf asking for the withdrawal of US forces and the deterioration in security and services," he told reporters.

Read the rest at France 24

Related Link:
Report: Sadr movement to withdraw from Maliki government

Related Link:
Analysis: The Sadr-Sistani relationship

Related Link:
Sadr urges militia, Iraqi forces to stop fighting each other in Diwaniya

Related Link:
Report: 2 Sadirist lawmakers fired for talking with U.S.

Related Link:
Sadrist lawmaker says U.S. troops raided his office; military denies involvement

Related Link:
Maliki 'orders' Sadr aide released by U.S. forces

Related Link:
Sadr movement spokesman rejects U.S.-staffed security station in Sadr City

Related Link:
Sadr urges supporters to resist U.S.

Related Link:
Allawi forms new political bloc in threat to Maliki, promises cleanup of Interior Ministry, 2 years of martial law

Related Link:
Sadr, in reported statement, renews demand for US forces to leave Iraq

Related Link:
Sadr movement says it will not give up posts unless others in coalition do

Related Link:
Report: Maliki 'cabinet reshuffle' to include arrests of up to 100

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

Related Link:
36 al-Sadr loyalists suspend participation in government