lily
03-30-2008, 09:56 PM
A step in the right direction. We will now see what kind of leader al-maliki is going to be. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/30/AR2008033000261.html?hpid=topnews)
Shiite Cleric Sadr Offers Conditions for Cease-Fire
By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, March 30, 2008; 10:06 AM
BAGHDAD, March 30 -- Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr Sunday ordered his armed
militia to get off the streets in Basra and to cooperate with the government
to restore security. In exchange, he asked the government to release
prisoners and declare an amnesty.
The Iraqi government quickly welcomed the comments as a move toward
restoring calm.
A spokesman for the government, Ali al-Dabbagh, said on state-run Iraqi
television that the government considered Sadr's statement a "positive
step."
He repeated government assertions that the military operations in Basra were
not aimed at Sadr's followers. "We expect all those who claim that they are
followers of the Sadr movement to heed this call and those who do not shall
be treated as outlaws and criminals."
In his statement, Sadr made the offer in exchange for the government
stopping "random, illegal raids and arrests." He also called on the
government to declare a general amnesty and to release prisoners taken
during the fighting, especially his followers.
Sadr's statement stopped short of directing fighters to turn over weapons to
Iraqi security forces, which has been a key demand of the government.
The move came after Sadr over the weekend told his supporters to ignore the
government's orders to disarm.
American and British forces on Saturday boosted their support of an Iraqi
military offensive in the southern city of Basra, where Sadr has accused
Iraq's government of acting like "a dictatorship."
Earlier Sunday, the U.S. military said American ground troops had joined
Iraqi troops in battles in Basra against the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to
Sadr. A U.S. airstrike killed at least 16 suspected militiamen after Iraqi
forces came under heavy fire, the military said. British forces fired
artillery in support of Iraqi forces.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who launched the offensive Monday against
armed groups, vowed "to stand up to these gangs in every inch of Iraq."
Maliki denied accusations that the Iraqi government was trying to undermine
political rivals before provincial elections this year. "We came to Basra to
fight the outlaws and the smugglers, not to confront a party or a political
group, because we do not seek political confrontation," he said.
The U.S. military reported that fighting also continued in Sadr City, the
sprawling Shiite district of the capital controlled by the Mahdi Army. In
overnight battles in Sadr City, U.S. soldiers returning fire killed nine
insurgents planting roadside bombs or firing at soldiers with guns and
rocket-propelled grenades, the military said.
Shiite Cleric Sadr Offers Conditions for Cease-Fire
By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, March 30, 2008; 10:06 AM
BAGHDAD, March 30 -- Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr Sunday ordered his armed
militia to get off the streets in Basra and to cooperate with the government
to restore security. In exchange, he asked the government to release
prisoners and declare an amnesty.
The Iraqi government quickly welcomed the comments as a move toward
restoring calm.
A spokesman for the government, Ali al-Dabbagh, said on state-run Iraqi
television that the government considered Sadr's statement a "positive
step."
He repeated government assertions that the military operations in Basra were
not aimed at Sadr's followers. "We expect all those who claim that they are
followers of the Sadr movement to heed this call and those who do not shall
be treated as outlaws and criminals."
In his statement, Sadr made the offer in exchange for the government
stopping "random, illegal raids and arrests." He also called on the
government to declare a general amnesty and to release prisoners taken
during the fighting, especially his followers.
Sadr's statement stopped short of directing fighters to turn over weapons to
Iraqi security forces, which has been a key demand of the government.
The move came after Sadr over the weekend told his supporters to ignore the
government's orders to disarm.
American and British forces on Saturday boosted their support of an Iraqi
military offensive in the southern city of Basra, where Sadr has accused
Iraq's government of acting like "a dictatorship."
Earlier Sunday, the U.S. military said American ground troops had joined
Iraqi troops in battles in Basra against the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to
Sadr. A U.S. airstrike killed at least 16 suspected militiamen after Iraqi
forces came under heavy fire, the military said. British forces fired
artillery in support of Iraqi forces.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who launched the offensive Monday against
armed groups, vowed "to stand up to these gangs in every inch of Iraq."
Maliki denied accusations that the Iraqi government was trying to undermine
political rivals before provincial elections this year. "We came to Basra to
fight the outlaws and the smugglers, not to confront a party or a political
group, because we do not seek political confrontation," he said.
The U.S. military reported that fighting also continued in Sadr City, the
sprawling Shiite district of the capital controlled by the Mahdi Army. In
overnight battles in Sadr City, U.S. soldiers returning fire killed nine
insurgents planting roadside bombs or firing at soldiers with guns and
rocket-propelled grenades, the military said.