Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLVII

No 25

21-June-2004

The Political Scene (21 June 2004)

Rebel Shi'a cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ended his insurgency in Najaf and is threatening to go into politics. The Americans are reluctant to hand over former president Saddam Husain to Iraqs government-in-waiting. US Secretary of State Colin Powell is concerned about the situation in Saudi Arabia as al-Qa'ida continues to target expatriates.

Sadr Changes Tack

After almost two weeks of intermittent skirmishes...