Iraq’s government is at present reeling under acute political crisis as Muqtada al-Sdr, a powerful Shiite leader threatened to withdraw from the government, in the wake of recent sectarian killings. It has put the Iraqi Prime minister, Nuri al-Maliki in a tight spot to choose between his US patrons and a crucial pillar of the coalition.
Sadr has reportedly stated that he would withdraw his support from the government which would potentially bring down the government, if the Iraqi prime minister goes ahead for a meeting with George Bush scheduled for next week in Jordon.
Since coming in the office, Maliki, a moderate Shiite, has been put under constant US pressure to disarm Mahdi Army and and other Shiite extremist organization that too while keeping them intact in the coalition to stay in the power.
The Sadr party has asked the Iraqi prime minister to specify the nature of relation with the allied forces, secondly Sadr demanded a specific time table for a US troop’s withdrawal and thirdly it has strong reservations on the scheduled meeting of Iraqi prime minister with George Bush in Jordan.
