MUQTADA AL-SADR MEETS WITH MAHDI MILITIA LEADERS ON BASRA

S E C R E T HILLAH 000078 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/7/2016 TAGS: KISL PGOV PTER IZ SUBJECT: MUQTADA AL-SADR MEETS WITH MAHDI MILITIA LEADERS ON BASRA CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, Regional Coordinator, REO Hillah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) CLASSIFIED BY: Alfred Fonteneau, Regional Coordinator, REO Hillah, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (S) According to a source close to cleric Muqtada's Al-Sadr's immediate circle, radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr met with unidentified Mahdi Militia (MM) leaders on May 6th. Participants discussed the MM response to the downing of a British helicopter in Basra. ¶2. (S) Our source told REO staff that Muqtada al-Sadr agreed to send militia units to Basra, Missan, and Nasiriyah. He reportedly emphasized the need for MM units to protect Sadrist offices in the provinces, particularly from Coalition Force attacks. Sadr ordered Sadrist leaders in Basra to peacefully protest the killing of Iraqi civilians by Coalition Forces and demand that the Iraqi government take action. He told MM leaders not to attack unless fired upon by ISF or CF units. ¶3. (S) Muqtada al-Sadr met with MM leaders at his residence in the Al-Hannah quarter. Iraqi police were not noticeably present, but Mahdi Militia members were visible in the residence, nearby buildings, and on the rooftops. They were armed with machine guns and RPGs. Cars were channeled toward several checkpoints in the vicinity of Muqtada al-Sadr's residence. FONTENEAU