WASHINGTON, April 5 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush labeled radical Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr an enemy of democracy and vowed Monday Iraqis would not see America run.
"This is one person deciding that rather than allow democracy to flourish he is going to exercise force," Bush said. "We just can't let that stand."
The Coalition Provision Authority in Iraq, acting on a warrant from an Iraqi judge, issued orders Monday for the arrest of al-Sadr, who is accused of killing a rival cleric soon after the fall of Baghdad.
Al-Sadr, opposed to U.S. and foreign presence in Iraq, unleashed his armed militia Sunday in the streets of east Baghdad in an attempt to seize control of police stations and other key buildings. Clashes with coalition forces led to dozens of Iraqis killed and the deaths of at least eight coalition troops.
Al-Sadr's militia also clashed violently with British soldiers in two southern cities.
Bush said the United States, allies and Iraqi leaders were committed to handing over to an interim Iraq government national sovereignty June 30 and would not be deterred by al-Sadr and his followers.
