BAGHDAD, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mehdi Army militia to suspend its activities for up to six months and his movement to shut its offices for three days, a top aide said on Wednesday.

"First, (let's) freeze (the activities of) the Mehdi Army, without exception, to restructure it in a way that will preserve its principles, for a maximum period of six months," Hazim al-Araji said, reading from a statement he said was signed by Sadr.

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