Mystery over Sadr as Iraq awaits crackdown

Baghdad - US defence officials have claimed that their Iraqi nemesis radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has fled for Iran ahead of a planned military crackdown on sectarian violence.

The anti-American firebrand's supporters dismissed the allegations by anonymous military officials, insisting that Sadr supports the joint US- Iraq Baghdad security plan and that they will disarm their militia once order is restored.

"We have seen the reports and believe them to be accurate," a US defence official told AFP in Baghdad, referring to reports in the US media that Sadr had been driven overland to Tehran two or three weeks ago.

He has not been seen publicly in Iraq in that period, but Nassar al-Rubaie, the head of Sadr's parliamentary bloc, insisted that the cleric was "still inside Iraq and working normally" and had no fear of US forces.

Bassem al-Aathari, an official at Sadr's office in Najaf south of Baghdad, said the cleric is still in the Shiite holy city and that if he were to travel abroad this would be announced as had been the case for previous trips.

"It's ridiculous. It's nothing," Rubaie told AFP in Baghdad. "If the US army already in Iraq is incapable of resisting Sadr, what difference would 20,000 reinforcements make?"

The Pentagon describes Sadr's Mahdi Army militia as the most dangerous single faction in the vicious sectarian war gripping Iraq, accusing rogue elements of the force of killing hundreds of Sunni civilians.

The United States is in the process of sending five extra combat brigades to support a joint US-Iraqi operation to pacify Baghdad, which is in the grip of a bloody war between Shiite and Sunni factions.

Rubaie repeated the Sadr movement's insistence that it supports the security plan and that its fighters would disarm once the plan is successful.

"The arms that people got to defend themselves will disappear as soon as the state assures security. We support this plan," he said.

Iraq announced Tuesday it will close its borders with Iran and Syria and impose draconian emergency-style security measures on Baghdad, although the commander of the operation said the decree would come into effect "later".

Lieutenant General Abboud Gambar, appeared on state television clad in military fatigues and a red beret to warn: "All those who breach the terms of this decree will be judged under the law on terrorism.

Four of the main Iranian and two Syrian border posts will remain closed for 72 hours, before reopening, but others will be shut indefinitely, he said.

In addition, weapons permits will be suspended for everyone in Baghdad apart from the Iraqi and US-led security forces and registered private security firms and the city's nightly curfew will be reinforced.

Gambar will combine under his command police and military forces, and be empowered to crack down on rogue security force units within the capital.

The decree will authorise him to "impose necessary restrictions in all public places and centres and clubs and organisations and unions and businesses and institutions and offices to protect citizens and people who work.

"Searches will be done on public streets and precautionary measures will be applied on packages, mail, messages and communications and telecommunications equipment," he said, reading the decree on state television.

"Security forces will be authorised to block or search public or private property ... (and) will have the right to impose travel restrictions on individuals or vehicles," he added.

Iraqis living in housing belonging to displaced persons will be given two weeks to leave or face eviction, he warned.

In recent weeks anonymous US military briefers have been pushing claims that Tehran is directly involved in supplying weaponry to Shiite factions in Iraq, including armour-piercing bombs that have killed 170 US soldiers.

Iran denies the claims.-- AFP

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