Iraqi leader drops protection of militia
Iraq’s prime minister has dropped his protection of the feared Shiite militia of a radical anti-American cleric after U.S. intelligence convinced him the group was infiltrated by death squads whose actions were isolating him in the Arab world and among moderates at home, two officials said Sunday. In a desperate bid to fend off an all-out American offensive, the cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, last Friday ordered the 30 lawmakers and six Cabinet ministers under his control to end their nearly two-month boycott. They were back at their jobs Sunday. Full Story