Pressure on Sadr to end ceasefire as dealine approaches

Again, all of this clamor from the Mahdi could be part of a negotiation for the next ceasefire extension, but the rancor from Sadr's rank and file is sounding more and more genuine to me.

Anti-U.S. cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his feared Mehdi Army on Thursday to maintain its six-month ceasefire as members of the militia clashed with U.S. and Iraqi soldiers in Baghdad.....

"Any member of the Mehdi Army who conducts violent acts during the ceasefire, the Sadr office declares they will no longer be part of the Mehdi Army," Sadr said in a statement read to Reuters by Ubaidi.

The pressure to end the ceasefire comes from the belief among the Mahdi that the US and Iraqi government are abusing this ceasefire to target Mahdi figures.

(AP) The US raided Sadr City, killing one and arresting 16.

This current ceasefire is scheduled to lapse in late February.