(KUNA) -- US forces were keeping tracking Muqtada Al-Sadr and believed he was in Iran, a US general said on Wednesday, yet he declined to state whether the Shiite cleric was a wanted man. As for the previous 24 hours, Sadr was not in Iraq, as all indications affirm that he was still in Iran, Major General William Caldwell, chief spokesman for US forces in Iraq, said today. Caldwell said recent US and Iraqi military operations on the Mahdi stronghold of Sadr City in northeast Baghdad were enjoying good cooperation from the local mayor and residents.At the same news conference, US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Daniel Speckhard was also hesitant to interpret Sadr's status. Asked about US State Department policy in the light of Iraqi government comments Sadr was not wanted, Speckhard said Iraqis were leading the way in all political negotiations.
Washington was pleased with some of the statements in recent months about the desire for that organization to no longer be a militia, which the leadership said that they called for constructive engagement, an end to military or militant roles for those that were in the organization, Speckhard added.
Members of Sadr's political group had earlier denied reports by the Pentagon that he left Iraq before Iraqi and US-led coalition forces began the new security plan in Baghdad last month. The plan was codenamed "law enforcement". Washington is trying to create a delicate balance between cracking down on Mahdi militants responsible for sectarian killings and attacks on US forces, while backing Premier Maliki's efforts at reconciliation and reintegrating militias into the political process.