Al-Sadr arrives in Damascus

The Iraqi Shiite clergy and political leader Moqtada al-Sadr arrived in Damascus on Sunday for a several-day visit to Syria, expected to be followed by a similar visit to Lebanon.

SANA reported that an official reception was given to him in Damascus International Airport.

Upon his arrival al-Sadr went to Seydaha (Lady Zeinab Shrine, for the Shiite) to meet with the Iraqi community.

Al-Sadr told al-Jazeera TV that he supports taking part in the next Iraqi government, if such participation is an introduction for the pullout of the American forces and the independence of Iraq. He expressed his hope that "the next Iraqi government will be formed without foreign intervention."

Al-Sadr recently announced he will launch an initiative to reform relations between Lebanon and Syria. One leading figure in al-Sader trend said that al-Sader will visit Lebanon in the course of current tour which he had started in Saudi Arabia and then Iran. After his meeting with several Iranian officials in Tehran, al-Sader said that "al-Mahdi army" will defend any Islamic country vulnerable to attacks.