Resistance will resume if US forces stay in Iraq: Sadr

BAGHDAD: Shiite radical leader Moqtada al-Sadr said on Saturday that his supporters will resume their resistance to US forces in Iraq if they do not leave as scheduled by the end of the year.

"If the Americans don't leave Iraq on time, we will increase the resistance and restart the activities of the Mahdi Army," Sadr said in a fiery statement read by a spokesman to thousands of followers in Baghdad.

He was referring to his militia which mounted repeated uprisings against US-led forces in Iraq before he stood it down in August 2008.