BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The political movement of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric and militia leader Moqtada al-Sadr threatened on Wednesday to pull out of the government to press their demand for a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.
"Therefore, the Sadr movement is studying the option of pulling out of the Iraqi government," the statement said.
Tens of thousands of Iraqis answered a call by Sadr to rally in the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf on Monday to demand the withdrawal of some 140,000 U.S.-led forces from Iraq.
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Tuesday setting timetables for a troop withdrawal would undermine a U.S.-Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad, which he said was beginning to show signs of progress in curbing sectarian violence.
Maliki told reporters during a visit to Tokyo he also saw no need to set a timetable. He said his government was working to build up Iraq's security forces as quickly as possible so U.S.-led forces could leave.
"The Sadr movement rejects the statements by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who clings to the presence of the U.S. forces despite the will of the Iraqi people," the Sadrists said.
It also criticised the government's handling of the Baghdad crackdown, which the movement has previously said it supports, and complained about a lack of basic services.
The Sadrists ended a two-month boycott of parliament in January after pulling out in protest over the timetable issue and a meeting between Maliki and Bush. They returned after a deal was brokered.
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