Al Sadr's at It Again

Things are getting complicated in Iraq.

AP reports:

Clashes erupted between rival Shiite groups across the Shiite-dominated south Wednesday, threatening Iraq with yet another crisis at a time when politicians are struggling to end a constitutional stalemate with Sunni Arabs.

The confrontation in at least five southern cities - involving a radical Shiite leader who led two uprisings against U.S. forces last year - followed the boldest assault by Sunni insurgents in weeks in the capital. Fighting between Shiite factions continued Thursday.
....

Trouble in the south began when supporters of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr tried to reopen his office in the Shiite holy city of Najaf, which was closed after the end of fighting there last year.

When Shiites opposed to al-Sadr tried to block the move, fights broke out. Four people were killed, 20 were injured and al-Sadr's office was set on fire, police said.

Read the whole thing here.

UPDATE:

Even as I am writing this MSNBC is reporting that things are quieting down between al Sadr and the Shiite leadership.

Meanwhile the "insurgents" are stepping up their attacks.

The Shiite on Shiite conflict reminds us that the simple Shiite, Sunni, Kurd tricotomy that dominates public discourse in this country over Iraq is woefully inadequate to describe the real situation there. There is, for instance, almost no discussion of class issues which are vital to understanding al Sadr's appeal and initiatives.

UPDATE:

FOX News reports that al Sadr, has called on his supporters to end their clashes with Shiite rivals so that stalled talks on a new constitution can proceed. [here] He also blamed the US for the clashes saying that they were intended to divide Muslims and rejected the principle of federalism saying that Muslims had to show unity in a time of crisis and to join together to foil US schemes.