Sadr's aide released to quell extremism in Iraq -- US Army

BAGHDAD, March 22 (KUNA) -- The US Army local command said it released Ahmed Shebani, a senior aide of the influential cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, on Thursday after spending two years and a half in prison in the southern holy city of Al-Najaf, to help boost national reconciliation in Iraq.He was placed under custody of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki after consulting him, the US Army statement which was distributed here today said.The statement pointed out that commanders of the coalition forces decided that the release of Sheikh Shebani, who had been detained since 2004, could serve in "quelling extremism and encourage reconciliation in the country." Al-Maliki received Shebani at his office in Baghdad, after serving more than two years in prison due to bloody incidents in Al-Najaf during era of Iyad Allawi's government.His release came a day after the US forces raided the office of the Sadrist Parliament member, Baha' Al-Aaraji, and confiscated his personal computer.