Iraq's political bloc of anti- American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr will withdraw from the government on Monday, a lawmaker from the group told Xinhua on Sunday.

Six ministers from Sadr group will officially withdraw from the government on Monday to protest the arrest of Mahdi Army leaders and urge for a timetable for U.S. troops' withdrawal, Salah Hassan Issa said by telephone.

However, the bloc's 30 legislators will continue to participate in the parliament, he added.

Sadr, a key political ally of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki, led his Mahdi Army militia in two uprisings against the American military in 2004 and has long demanded U.S. forces leave Iraq.

Last November, the political bloc announced suspension of their role in parliament and government to protest Maliki's meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush. However, the bloc returned to the Iraqi political arena months later.

Source: Xinhua