The Sadr supporters waved Iraqi and Hezbollah flags and chanted "Death to America!

In one incident, Sadr supporters beat up a professor of the media department for his ties to the Baath Party, students said.

But a substantial bloc of Sadr supporters remain in the Iraqi Parliament.

Sadr supporters also continue to engage in peaceful resistance such as the large protests in Baghdad on April 9, 2005.

Late Tuesday night, senior aides to Mr. Sadr arranged for the release of a young American photographer, Paul Taggart, who was kidnapped on Sunday in Baghdad by Sadr supporters.

Planning for an assault was based on the assumption that these would be used by some of the hundreds of Sadr supporters remaining in the shrine, who have told reporters in recent days that most of the fighters had left.

In Karbala, there were perhaps 750 armed Sadr supporters at the start, and there is no remaining evidence of the militia today.

It is also unclear what role Sadr supporters will play in Mr. Maliki's government.

But Sadr supporters insisted that everyone remain dedicated to the ayatollah's edicts even after he was killed, according to Professor Cole.

A number of independent politicians, including some supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr (although other Sadr supporters formed the National Independent Cadres and Elites party).