Abu Deraa, Sheikh Baqir run violence in Sadr City remotely – U.S. commander

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Commander of U.S. battalion deployed in Sadr City on Monday said that two of the most prominent commanders of Mahdi Army, Abu Deraa and Sheikh Baqir, had left Iraq but run violence in the city through their aides, by forming special groups loyal neither to Iraqi government nor to Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr. “The most dangerous commanders of the Mahdi Army, Abu Deraa and Sheikh Baqr, formed those special groups that receive no orders from any Iraqi figure,” he said. “The biggest group of Mahdi Army moved to political work, and currently practice a political role,” he added. MH (P)/SR 1