Sadr Comes in From the Cold

DAMASCUS - In a surprising move that took observers off-guard, Iraqi Shi'ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr showed up in Istanbul at the weekend with a delegation of 70 supporters, including members of the 30-man Sadrist bloc in the Iraqi parliament.

The visit was at the request of Muqtada, only one month after United States President Barack Obama visited Turkey in April. The young cleric, 36, has visibly aged since last seen in an interview on the Doha-based al-Jazeera, in May 2008. More sober and tough, but with less inflammatory speech, white streaks have started to show on his beard - making him look at least 10 years older.