Iraq's Maliki Demands Shiite Militias Disband Or Face Isolation

Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki has stated that the Shiite militias under the quasi control of al Sadr must disband or al Sadr's group will find itself isolated, politically. Al Sadr's coalition has shot back that any political isolation or banning of their participation in the government would be unconstitutional. Interesting isn't it that al Sadr, who did NOTHING to help form the new constitution of Iraq is now using that document to cement his protest! From the news article:

Al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, told CNN Sunday that al-Sadr's followers would not be allowed "to participate in the political process or take part in upcoming elections unless they end the Mahdi Army."
He was referring to provincial elections expected in the fall that are likely to redistribute power in Iraq. The Sadrists have accused al-Maliki's government and rival parties of trying to diminish their standing ahead of the vote.

This whole situation is probably going to get more ugly before it gets better and some might say that it will never get any better as long as al Sadr is still in the picture - I'll let you read into that as much as you'd like.

Here's the full story from AP.

Iraq PM: Shiite Militia Must Disband

BAGHDAD (AP) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki issued his strongest warning yet to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to disband his Mahdi Army militia or face political isolation. The Sadrists fired back Monday, saying a move to ban them from elections would be unconstitutional.
The U.S. military, meanwhile, said two more soldiers died in roadside bombings on Sunday, raising the day's American death toll to at least five. The announcement comes as the top two U.S. officials in Iraq prepare to brief Congress on the prospects for the eventual withdrawal of American troops.
Al-Maliki, himself a Shiite, told CNN Sunday that al-Sadr's followers would not be allowed "to participate in the political process or take part in upcoming elections unless they end the Mahdi Army."
He was referring to provincial elections expected in the fall that are likely to redistribute power in Iraq. The Sadrists have accused al-Maliki's government and rival parties of trying to diminish their standing ahead of the vote.
The prime minister, who took office in May 2006 with al-Sadr's support but later broke with the powerful cleric, had in the past repeatedly promised to disband militias but his comments on CNN signaled the first time he publicly singled out the Mahdi Army.
Senior Sadrist lawmaker Baha al-Aaraji called for calm but said the prime minister had no constitutional right to interfere with the elections.
"The Supreme Electoral Commission is the one to decide, not the prime minister, so the prime minister should not interfere in the work of this commission," al-Aaraji said Monday at a news conference.
Lawmakers and officials involved in the effort to isolate the Sadrists politically have told The Associated Press that the first step would be adding language to a draft election bill banning parties that operate militias from fielding candidates in the provincial balloting due this fall.