California Battles Fire's Wrath LOS ANGELES - Southern Californians weathered a second straight day of devastation Saturday as wind-blasted wildfires destroyed hundreds of homes, shut down major freeways and forced thousands of residents to flee to safety. ...more

November 16, 2008

Iraq's prime minister said Friday that the country's most influential Shiite cleric will leave the decision on the future of U.S. troops to the government and parliament, a step that could remove a major obstacle to a deal. ...more

October 11, 2008

Militant Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr plans to make a series of short visits to Iraq starting within weeks, but has decided to make Iran his home base for years to come, a key aide says. ...more

August 23, 2008

Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has sharply reduced his workload in recent months, raising new questions about the health of the aged leader and the prospect of a dangerous power vacuum without a clear and dominant successor. ...more

February 8, 2008

The leader of Iraq's biggest Shiite militia movement has resumed seminary studies toward attaining the title of ayatollah - a goal that could make Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army an even more formidable power broker in Iraq. ...more

December 14, 2007