1115.org

CNN:

Anti-U.S. Shiite cleric and militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr will announce Monday the departure of his movement’s six ministers from Iraq’s government to press demands for the U.S. to leave Iraq, the bloc’s spokesman Saleh al-Ageili told CNN.

The move makes good on a threat issued last week after Iraq’s prime minister rejected a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops, said al-Ageili.

The story goes on to say:

The withdrawal will not affect Sadr’s 30 members of parliament.

Not entirely clear what that means, but it sounds like the 6 ministers will resign from the government, but the 30 members of parliament will continue to support the government.

If so, this is just Muqtada al-Sadr flexing his muscles, and reminding Prime Minister al-Maliki just who holds the strings. What he really wants will no doubt become clear in the fullness of time.

Not very good timing for Bush, though, is it?