Sadr Freezes Militia Activities

Radical Iraqi Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr, says he is freezing the activities of his Mehdi Army militia for up to six months in order to re-organize it. He has also called on all its offices to co-operate with the security forces and exercise self-control. Analysts see the move as an attempt by him to regain control over his increasingly divided militia. The order was read out at a news conference in Karbala, where fighting on Tuesday killed more than 50 people. Police blamed the Mehdi Army for the violence, but it denied involvement.