The fights

The good news is that the Americans are still around the suburbs of Sadr-City and did not really entered the center of the city yet, al-badeel reported that about 50 American tanks tried to attack from 3 sides but the fighters managed to destroy 5 tanks, three tanks near Jamila Market which means that the fights are still at same place for 4-5 days, two tanks at the Sadr-City borders with Ur neighborhood.

The fighters managed to force the Americans to withdraw behind the Army Canal see maps, Ur neighborhood, Army Canal, the green line with streets on both sides
al-Sadr returns

Newspaper Al-Qabas own sources confirm the return of Muqtada al-Sadr to Najaf three days ago after Iran asked to take a decision about the recent splits between supporters and opposers of “disband and disarmament of Mahdi Army”, especially in Sadr-City.

The interesting part about the report is:

The Sadrists feel the growing political isolation and the need to invest in David Petraeus’ recent comments:

I think the way, the best way to characterize Muqtada al-Sadr is that he is the face and the leadership of a very important and legitimate political movement in Iraq.

Sistani and al-Sadr

According Awan, al-Sistani wants to meet al-Sadr in private to discus the disbanding of Mahdi Army, Sistani don’t want to meet al-Sadr’s representatives or spokesman or anybody on behalf of al-Sadr.

This is the same scenario from 2004’s meeting

Here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3780161.stm