Sadr warns Iraqi PM to back off as no-confidence vote reported brewing against him

From the Middle East Times, Iraqi Prime Minister is getting desperate, and the continued U.S. presence is becoming more ludicrous by the day.

DAYS AS PM NUMBERED?
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki (pictured at right ) was blasted by followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr. Sadr accused Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki Sunday of attacking them in order to appease his US allies, and warned him his days in office might be numbered.

Meanwhile, the US network CBS reported Maliki's opponents in parliament were planning to call a vote of no-confidence, perhaps as early as July 15. On Saturday, Maliki issued a bluntly-worded statement calling on Sadr's Mehdi Army to put aside its weapons, and alleged the movement had been infiltrated by terrorist supporters of Saddam Hussein's ousted regime. …

In recent weeks and months there have been several raids by Iraqi and US forces on Mehdi Army strongholds in Baghdad, while in the south of the country the militia has fought street battles with Iraqi and British forces.

Sadr still enjoys widespread support among central and southern Iraq's Shiite communities, however, and any broader move against him would be risky for a prime minister who was elected thanks to the movement's 32 MPs.

The White House is under increasing congressional pressure to show progress in Iraq or reconsider its military involvement in the country.


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