Followers of Radical Cleric Quit Iraq's Cabinet

This article is from the Associated Press, printed in Monday's Boston Herald. Iraqi cabinet ministers loyal to the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, quit their government positions, an action that separates the state's Prime Minister Nouri al -Maliki (backed by the U.S) and the influencial Shiite religious leader. The article sited the growing demands by Iraqi voters and politicians that a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal be set -- it is likely a cause of increasing unrest. The article focuses on the possible confrontation of U.S. troops by Sadr's militia and the considerable death toll, at least 51 over the last couple of days, which included U.S. and Iraqi soldiers and many civilians victims of sectarian violence. I think the article does seem to capture the local point of view to some degree, but it also emphasizes a very pressing issue in the U.S.--a timetable for troop withdrawal. It is likely that a local point of view would do more to highlight the increase in sectarian violence and the fall out of the decision against civilians as opposed to possible militia confrontation with the U.S. military, but the article seems to shed light on the local situation.