Sadr still supports Baghdad crackdown-aides

BAGHDAD, Feb 26 (Reuters) Powerful Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has not withdrawn his support from a US-backed crackdown in Baghdad, his aides said today.

Salih al-Ugeyli, a spokesman for Sadr's political movement, said yesterday's strongly worded statement from the Shi'ite cleric was meant to encourage Iraqi forces to act independently from the US military in the capital.

In the statement read out to a large crowd in Sadr's Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City, the cleric said the Baghdad security plan would not work because U.S. forces were involved.

''The media misinterpreted the statement because we are still fully behind the plan. It was meant as advice for our security forces who are capable of achieving more without American help,'' Ugeyli said.

A senior politician from Sadr's political movement echoed Ugeyli's comments.

''We have not withdrawn our support for the security plan. All we did was ask Iraqis to take more of a lead and we repeated our demands for a withdrawal of the occupation,'' said Falah Hasan Shanshal.

Sadr, an anti-American cleric, made his criticism hours after a female suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives killed 40 in a student college.

The plan is regarded as a last attempt to halt all-out civil war in Iraq. Sadr led his Mehdi Army Shi'ite militia in two uprisings against US forces in 2004.

Mehdi Army militiamen have so far avoided a confrontation with US forces sweeping the capital.

REUTERS PB KN1441