BBC: Three-day curfew ends in Baghdad

BBC ^ | 11:04 GMT, Monday, 31 March 2008 12:04 UK | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Three-day curfew ends in Baghdad

Baghdad's Sadr City is still burying its dead from the fighting

Iraqi authorities have lifted a curfew in Baghdad, allowing people to leave their homes and easing most measures put in force on Thursday.

Driving is still prohibited in three mainly Shia districts, including Sadr City, which saw some of the heaviest fighting last week.

Mehdi Army militiamen have withdrawn from the streets, residents say.

On Sunday, their leader, radical cleric Moqtada Sadr, ordered them to stop fighting Iraqi security forces.

The fighting has claimed more than 240 lives across the country since Tuesday.

The southern city of Basra, where the Iraqi army launched its campaign against the Shia militias, is also reported to be quieter, although some areas remain under the control of the Mehdi Army, and gunfire has been reported.

Another barrage of rockets or mortars hit the Green Zone complex of government and embassy buildings in Baghdad on Monday. No casualties have been reported.

'Positive' move

In Baghdad, residents are slowly venturing out onto the streets again, with queues reported at some shops selling food and household goods.

Moqtada Sadr told followers to "work with Iraqi government offices"

The balaclava-clad, gun-toting militiamen are nowhere to be seen, reports say.

In Basra, the curfew has been lifted in daytime but will remain at night, authorities said.

Moqtada Sadr's statement on Sunday said: "Because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood being shed... we call for an end to armed appearances in Basra and all other provinces.

"Anyone carrying a weapon and targeting government institutions will not be one of us."

The cleric also demanded that the government apply the general amnesty law, release detainees and stop what he called illegal and random raids against his militia.

He also told his followers to "work with Iraqi government offices to achieve security and to file charges against those who have committed crimes".

The statement was welcomed by a spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, who warned fighters who did not withdraw would face government action.

'No resolution'

However, Hazem al-Araji, an aide to Moqtada Sadr, told reporters that the cleric's appeal to his militias would not mean handing in weapons.

Ghazi Askar,4, is one of hundreds of Iraqis injured in the fighting

The BBC's Adam Brookes in Baghdad says this means the Mehdi Army will remain intact.

He says that although the move gives Mr Maliki a chance to claim victory, the central demand has not been met and this is not a resolution of the conflict.

The fighting began last Tuesday in Basra, when the prime minister vowed to "re-impose law" in the city.

He had then given militias until 8 April to surrender their weapons in return for cash.

The situation had appeared to be deteriorating on Saturday, with fierce fighting in both Baghdad and Basra.

Coalition forces had become more involved, with US air raids in the two cities in recent days, and British forces joining the fighting in Basra.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From USAToday:

Police: Kidnappers free Iraqi official

[Slapshot68]

“Moqtada Sadr’s statement on Sunday said: “Because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood being shed... we call for an end to armed appearances in Basra and all other provinces.”

Translation: We’re out of bullets, IEDs and mortars. Once our Iranian brothers resupply us, it’s back on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From CNN

Sources: Iran helped prod al-Sadr cease-fire

That would be McClatchy...FR thread :

Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire

****************EXCERPT From CNN*********************

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iran was integral in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to halt attacks by his militia on Iraqi security forces, an Iraqi lawmaker said Monday.

Haidar al-Abadi, who is with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Dawa Party, said Iraqi Shiite lawmakers traveled Friday to Iran to meet with al-Sadr. They returned Sunday, the day al-Sadr told his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down.

News of Iran's involvement in the cease-fire talks came as an al-Maliki spokesman said operations targeting "outlaws" in the Shiite stronghold of Basra would end when the mission's goals were achieved. Earlier, al-Maliki spokesman Sami al-Askari said the operation would be over by week's end, but he later recanted on the timetable.

The lawmakers who traveled to Iran to broker the cease-fire were from five Shiite parties, including the Sadrist movement. Al-Abadi would not say where in Iran the meeting was held.

The lawmakers hoped to convince Iran to cut off aid to Shiite militias and to persuade al-Sadr to end the fighting. Negotiations were difficult, but the delegation achieved its aims, al-Abadi said. Watch how the cease-fire affects Shiite vs. Shiite fights »

[bert]

BBC....American enemy.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

News Update ping.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Washington Post:

Basra Calm After Sadr Orders Cease-Fire

************************EXCERPT**********************

Mortars Strike Green Zone

By Sholnn Freeman and Sudarsan Raghavan Washington Post Foreign Service
Monday, March 31, 2008; 2:06 PM

BAGHDAD, March 31 -- Mortar fire caused fresh casualties and damage in the capital's heavily fortified Green Zone Monday, but senior Iraqi officials said the situation in the southern city of Basra was generally calm a day after a Shiite militia leader instructed followers to lay down their arms.

Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ordered his Mahdi Army militia Sunday to end six days of clashes against U.S. and Iraqi forces if the government agrees to release detainees and give amnesty to Sadr's fighters, among other demands. After the statement, mortar attacks continued in Baghdad and Basra, and violence persisted in many pockets of the country.

However, Iraqi officials Monday said areas such as Najibiya, Maaqil, Ashaar and other parts of Basra had opened up and that life for residents had returned to normal.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From TIME:

Sadr's Ambiguous Cease-Fire Offer

********************EXCERPT*********************

One day after fighting between the Iraqi government and Shi'ite militias escalated alarmingly, anti-American militia chieftain Moqtada al-Sadr extended an olive branch. On Sunday Sadr told members of his militia to stop appearing in the streets with weapons and to halt their attacks on government institutions.

**********************snip**********************

Sources in Basra tell TIME that there has been a large-scale retreat of the Mahdi Army in the oil-rich Iraqi port city because of low morale and because ammunition is low due to the closure of the Iranian border. TIME has not yet been able to confirm those reports with U.S., Mahdi Army or Iraqi government authorities.

[Blue State Insurgent]

And that ends the first inning with the score Iran nothing...Iraq one.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the Long War Journal:

Maliki: "Security operations in Basra will continue"

*****************EXCERPT*****************

By Bill RoggioMarch 31, 2008 3:08 PM

One day after Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army, called for his fighters to abandon combat, the fighting in Basrah has come to a near-halt and the Iraqi security forces are patrolling the streets. While Sadr spokesman said the Iraqi government agreed to Sadr's terms for the ceasefire, Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki has said the security forces will continue operations in Basrah in the south. Meanwhile, the Mahdi Army took heavy casualties in Basrah, Nasiriyah, Babil, and Baghdad over the weekend, despite Sadr's call for the end of fighting.

Maliki was clear that operations would continue in the South.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

See #10....Sadr and Iran...got whopped....

[Allegra]

Translation: We’re out of bullets, IEDs and mortars. Once our Iranian brothers resupply us, it’s back on.

Actually, the translation is "We're getting our asses kicked big-time. Please stop fighting us....we aren't up to it."

[SunkenCiv]

Sadr’s militia needs to be obliterated, and all traces of his image pulled down — as non-Islamic. Thanks Ernest.

[BIGLOOK]

Thanks for the Monday pings, Ernest.

Maliki better keep the heat on and not 'go wobbly'.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The media is trying to portray this as a victory for Sadr...and thus Iran....

From the Blogosphere (Flopping Aces):

Iranian Influence on Cease Fire?

AND

If Sadr Won, Where Is The Dancing And Cheering In The Streets?

That last link might be worth a separate thread....

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Wall Street Journal says this:

Basra Battle Strengthens Sadr

But in the article thay have :

Mr. McCain also accused Iran of providing "extensive" support to Shiite militias in southern Iraq, including Mr. Sadr's Mahdi Army. He said it was too soon to determine whether Mr. Maliki or Mr. Sadr would ultimately emerge as the winner of the fighting in Basra.

"Apparently it was Sadr who asked for the cease-fire. It wasn't Maliki," Sen. McCain noted. "Very rarely do I see the winning side declare a cease-fire."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Semi News,,,what the MSM is trying to do ...and notes there on...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Media is trying to turn that around...

[InterceptPoint]

If Sadr Won, Where Is The Dancing And Cheering In The Streets?

Sadr's militia still has their guns and ammo so the Iraqi government cannot claim victory. They should have turned down the offer to cease-fire until they had accomplished that goal and they didn't.

OTOH, Iran could see that without a cease-fire they were going to lose by attrition. Better to stop fighting, and regroup so you can fight again another day. This is just a pause in the conflict that should never have been allowed, let alone sought after. It is not a win for Sadr but it is certainly not the defeat that he and his Iranian masters deserves.

This war would be over if it were not for the support of Iran and Syria and it won't really end until their military and financial support is ended.

[tobyhill]

***The balaclava-clad, gun-toting militiamen are nowhere to be seen, reports say.***.

If Sadr won then there would be “balaclava-clad, gun-toting militiamen” everywhere firing their guns in the air for celebratory purposes.

[Allegra]

Sadr's boys just did it again...

'Bout half an hour ago. I was on the phone arguing with an idiot back in the US as I was trying to make a payment on my storage unit. She was some ditzy, snippy little immigrant with an attitude and couldn't figure out how to charge my account. The mortars launched, followed by a bunch of gunfire and I lit into her.

The cellphones here won't work inside, so I have to stand outside to use it.

I gave her a lesson on customer service and told her I'd be paying a visit to her manager when I get home in a couple of weeks.

I don't think she's gonna have a good day.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Damn...stay safe...