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Moqtada al-Sadr, dominant Iraqi political leader, retires from politics

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Kabul: One of Iraq’s most powerful figures, who has been at the center of a long crisis over forming a government, says he is retiring from political life.

Moqtada al-Sadr, a firebrand Shia cleric with millions of followers, announced his decision on Twitter.

Hundreds of his supporters have been camped outside parliament for weeks after twice storming it in protest at the political deadlock.

His forces were prominent in fighting US troops after the 2003 invasion.

Mr Sadr’s announcement comes two days after he called for all parties and figures involved in political life following the US-led invasion of Iraq to quit.

His political alliance won the most seats in last October’s general election, but his MPs later resigned amid deadlock with a rival Shia bloc over the appointment of a new prime minister.

Mr Sadr said in a statement: “I had decided not to interfere in political affairs, but I now announce my final retirement and the closure of all [Sadrist] institutions.” Some religious sites linked to his movement will remain open.

Mr Sadr, 48, has been a dominant figure in Iraqi public and political life for the past two decades. His Mahdi Army emerged as one of the most powerful militias which fought US and allied Iraqi government forces in the aftermath of the US-led invasion which toppled former ruler Saddam Hussein.

He later rebranded it as the Peace Brigades, and it remains one of the biggest militias which now form part of the Iraqi armed forces.

Mr Sadr branded himself as a nationalist wanting to end US and Iranian influence over Iraq’s internal affairs.

He is one of a few figures who could quickly mobilise hundreds of thousands of supporters onto the streets, and draw them down again. Hundreds have been camped outside parliament since storming it twice in July and August in protest at the deadlock.

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