Mehdi army leader in Basra killed -Iraqi police

Source: Reuters

More BASRA, Iraq, May 25 (Reuters) - The leader of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in the southern Iraqi city of Basra was killed by British forces on Friday, Iraqi police said.

The British military said in a statement that "a militia leader" was killed by Iraqi forces in what they called a "precision strike" on his car in central Basra.


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL547292.htm

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BASRA, Iraq, May 25 (Reuters) - The leader of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in the southern Iraqi city of Basra was killed by Iraqi special forces on Friday, the British military said.

It said in a statement that Abu Qader, wanted for political assassinations, gun smuggling and attacks on British troops, was killed in central Basra as he tried to resist arrest.

A senior member in Sadr's movement said Abu Qader had just left Friday prayers when British forces ambushed and killed him with two other Mehdi Army members.

"We heard it was the British troops who killed him. Maybe there were Iraqi forces with them, but we do not know for sure," Abdul Mahdi al-Mutiri told Reuters.

He said the group's response will be "political resistance".

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR549252.htm

Sadr himself showed up alive and well in Najaf I heard. In spite of what one might call obvious risk of something er, precisely like this happening to him.

hope for Iraq to remain intact, IMHO.