Iraq Shiite cleric is hopeful about pullback

SAMEER N. YACOUB Associated Press Writer BAGHDAD

A Shiite cleric whose followers have been blamed in some of Iraq's worst violence gave a cautious welcome today to the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from cities. Muqtada al-Sadr said he was "filled with hope" but expressed concern that some Americans will remain in urban areas. The U.S. mi l i tary was required to pull back combat troops from cities by Tuesday as part of a security pact that calls for a full withdrawal of American forces by the end of 2011. But some 130,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq and the military said a small number of th...