Al-Sadr al-flees al-Iraq al-fearing al-U.S. al-bombs

CBS and a thousand other sources are reporting that Muqtada al-Sadr, head of the Iranian-backed Mahdi (or Mehdi) army, has fled to Iran:

An adviser to Iraq's prime minister said Thursday that radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iran, but denied he fled due to fear of arrest during an escalating security crackdown.

Sami al-Askari said al-Sadr traveled to Iran by land "a few days ago," but gave no further details on how long he would stay in Iran. A member of al-Sadr's bloc in parliament, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals, said al-Sadr left three weeks ago.

"I confirm that Muqtada al-Sadr is in Iran on a visit," said al-Askari. "But I deny that his visit is a flight."

So he's taking a vacation just as the surge begins? Whatever you say, slim. Hezbollah, Part Deux, is beginning to crumble.

I was amazed to see this on the BBC's home page. They're actually calling al-Sadr "radical". That'll be stealth edited. BBC's story is here.