By Xinhua
Baghdad : Iraq’s radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered on Friday to extend the six-month-old ceasefire of his Mahdi Army militia, an aide for Sadr said.
“I can confirm that Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered to renew the freeze of the Mahdi Army for another period,” Hazim al-Araji, a top aide for Sadr told reporters.
Araji said that the declaration was sent by letters to all of Sadr offices in Iraq.
Aides of Muqtada al-Sadr are expected announce the ceasefire declaration during the ceremonies of Friday’s weekly prayers in Shiite mosques in Iraq.
On Wednesday, a Sadr aide said that the ceasefire would end automatically by Saturday, and Mahdi Army would resume its activities unless Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr issue a statement to renew the ceasefire.