Radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr announces retirement from politics

A radical Iraqi cleric whose militia group fought US troops after they invaded Iraq has said he is retiring from political life.

Moqtada Sadr is from a religious Shia family.

His militia was blamed for abducting and killing thousands of Sunnis.

In 2008 after his militia – the Mehedi Army – clashed with the Iraqi army , he announced the group would give up its arms and disband.

He later made a truce with Prime Minister Maliki, and his followers obtained several ministerial posts in the government.

Since then he has called for unity and peace in the country.

The 40 year old said he was shutting down all of his offices apart from some charities