Iraq cleric 'calls for new start'

From The BBC

An "Iraq cleric"? Shouldn't the headline read "Moqtada Sadr calls for..."? Or "Radical and firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr..." After all it is not much of a story without Sadr, now is it?

Seems like having an interim Iraqi government is having the desired effect. With the Iraqis in control of their own government attacks on it are seen as attacks on Iraqis themselves.

Radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr has issued conditional support for the interim Iraqi government, which he earlier rejected as a US puppet.

In a sermon at Friday prayers in the town of Kufa, he also urged his supporters to stop attacking Iraqi security forces.

Notice he didn't say not to attack coalition troops though.

Stones and shoes were thrown in the clash at the shrine of Imam Ali leaving several people injured and forcing the cancellation of Friday prayers.

Which is better than using guns and RPGs!

Mr Sadr added that the formation of the government was a good opportunity to bury past differences and "forge ahead toward the building of a unified Iraq".

The sermon in general was conciliatory, the BBC's David Bamford says.

We'll see; leopards don't change their spots that easily.
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