Ahmed Shibani

Ahmed Shibani is a senior aide to radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose political movement plays a key role in Iraq's power-sharing coalition.[1][2][3]

Mr Shibani met Nouri Maliki hours after Iraqi government officials said they were talking with insurgent groups.

The US-led coalition said Mr Shibani could help moderate extremism in Iraq.

In a statement, the coalition said leaders judged that Mr Shibani "could play a potentially important role in helping to moderate extremism and foster reconciliation in Iraq."

The US military jailed Mr Shibani at a military prison more than two years ago after detaining him during an uprising against the occupation in the Shia town of Najaf.[2]

References

"Sadr agrees to peace demands". News24. 2004-08-18. Doha - A spokesperson for rebel leader Moqtada Sadr expressed surprise on Wednesday at threats of an imminent attack on his militia by Iraqi forces, saying the Shiite cleric had agreed to demands made by peace mediators. "We are surprised by the declaration and threat by the minister of defence ... because we have given our full accord to the initiative presented by the delegation," Ahmed Shibani said on Al-Jazeera television.
"Baghdad seeks insurgent allies against al-Qaeda". Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2010-02-11. The decision to free Sheik Ahmed Shibani, who had been in prison for 2¹⁄₂ years, was made to ease tensions between Sadr's Mahdi Army militia and US-led forces. "In consultation with the Prime Minister [Nouri al-Maliki] and following his request, coalition leaders determined that Sheik Shibani could play a potentially important role in helping to moderate extremism and foster reconciliation in Iraq," a US military spokesman said.
Mariam Karouny (2007-03-21). "Iraq PM orders Sadr aide released by U.S. forces". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-02-11. Ahmed Shibani, who had been held for more than two years, is a senior aide to Sadr, a radical anti-American cleric who is also the leader of the Mehdi Army militia which Washington recently called the greatest threat to security in Iraq.

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[1] "Sadr agrees to peace demands". News24. 2004-08-18. Doha - A spokesperson for rebel leader Moqtada Sadr expressed surprise on Wednesday at threats of an imminent attack on his militia by Iraqi forces, saying the Shiite cleric had agreed to demands made by peace mediators. "We are surprised by the declaration and threat by the minister of defence ... because we have given our full accord to the initiative presented by the delegation," Ahmed Shibani said on Al-Jazeera television.

[SydneyMorningHerald2007-03-23-2] "Baghdad seeks insurgent allies against al-Qaeda". Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-03-23. Retrieved 2010-02-11. The decision to free Sheik Ahmed Shibani, who had been in prison for 2¹⁄₂ years, was made to ease tensions between Sadr's Mahdi Army militia and US-led forces. "In consultation with the Prime Minister [Nouri al-Maliki] and following his request, coalition leaders determined that Sheik Shibani could play a potentially important role in helping to moderate extremism and foster reconciliation in Iraq," a US military spokesman said.

[3] Mariam Karouny (2007-03-21). "Iraq PM orders Sadr aide released by U.S. forces". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-02-11. Ahmed Shibani, who had been held for more than two years, is a senior aide to Sadr, a radical anti-American cleric who is also the leader of the Mehdi Army militia which Washington recently called the greatest threat to security in Iraq.