Sadr militia pulls back in compromise

BAGHDAD, April 13 (UPI) -- A militia loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Sadr withdrew from some government buildings in Iraq Tuesday, easing tensions with coalition forces opposing them.

But even as the Mehdi Army -- which had occupied large parts of Baghdad, Kufa, Kerbala and Najaf -- stood down and was replaced by Iraqi forces, tensions continued between Sadr and the U.S.-led coalition, which has vowed to "capture or kill" him.

Sadr had been a nonviolent opponent of the U.S. occupation until last week when a series of events -- including the closure of his newspaper and the arrest of a top lieutenant -- led to violent clashes with coalition forces.