Muqtada al-Sadr: The British are retreating from Basra - Independent Online Edition > Middle East

Muqtada al-Sadr: The British are retreating from Basra - Independent Online Edition > Middle East: "'The British have realised this is not a war they should be fighting or one they can win,' Mr Sadr said. 'The Mehdi army has played an important role in that.' He also warned that Britain's involvement in the invasion of Iraq had made the UK a less safe place to live. 'The British put their soldiers in a dangerous position by sending them here but they also put the people in their own country in danger,' he said. 'They have made enemies among all Muslims and they now face attacks at home because of their war. That was their mistake.' His comments came during two separate meetings with The Independent at the Sadr movement's headquarters in Kufa, a holy Shia city, 100 miles south of Baghdad, and site of the Grand Mosque where Mr Sadr often preaches fiery Friday sermons. The streets were eerily devoid of cars, which are, in effect, banned in an effort to prevent bombings. Senior Shia leaders are high on the list of targets for Sunni extremists."