In a blow to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr’s militia, U.S. soldiers captured his key lieutenant during a raid early Wednesday that left 24 people dead. Coalition officials said they seized Riyadh al-Nouri, the cleric’s brother-in-law, and detained three others in an operation that involved hundreds of U.S. soldiers and dozens of tanks. Nearly 50 people were wounded, hospital and militia officials told The Associated Press. Hours later, Iraq’s national security adviser, Mouwafak al-Rubaie, said that Sadr had agreed to withdraw his militia from Najaf and hand the city back to Iraqi police, raising hopes for an end to weeks of conflict, AP reported. Al-Rubaie said Sadr made the offer in a letter to the city’s Shiite clerical hierarchy. Full Story