A radical Iraqi cleric whose militia group fought US troops after they invaded Iraq has said he is retiring from political life.<br /><br />Moqtada Sadr is from a religious Shia family.<br /><br />His militia was blamed for abducting and killing thousands of Sunnis.<br /><br />In 2008 after his militia – the Mehedi Army – clashed with the Iraqi army , he announced the group would give up its arms and disband.<br /><br />He later made a truce with Prime Minister Maliki, and his followers obtained several ministerial posts in the government.<br /><br />Since then he has called for unity and peace in the country.<br /><br />The 40 year old said he was shutting down all of his offices apart from some charities
