Mehdi Army Ceasefire Extended Indefinitely

Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr has extended the ceasefire being observed by his group, the Mehdi Army, indefinitely. In a statement posted on a website, Sadr warned that anyone who violates the ceasefire will not be considered to be part of his group. Once one of the most powerful forces fighting against the American-led coalition in Iraq, Sadr initiated a six-month ceasefire last August and renewed it in February. He now says his 60,000-strong group will turn to cultural activities, but did not say what those activities will be. His message did not speak of a surrender of weapons.