Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Al-Maliki Orders Shiite Cleric's Release Day After US Arrest

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered the release of a cleric affiliated with anti-American Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr a day after his arrest by US forces, Iraq's official television station al-Iraqiya reported Wednesday.

There was no immediate clarification of why al-Maliki ordered the release of the Shiite cleric Mazen al-Sa'edi, the office manager of al-Sadr's group in the town of Karkh.

Al-Sa'edi was reportedly arrested by US forces Tuesday in the Sho'la district in western Baghdad, with media reports saying the Americans had suspected him of having directed kidnappings, killings and torture of Sunnis and Shiites and also attacking US forces.

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