Posted on 04/26/2008 8:33:11 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
BAGHDAD (AP) — The U.S. military reported a relative lull in fighting Saturday, a day after radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said his threat of an "open war" applied only to American-led foreign troops.
Still, at least 12 Iraqis were wounded Saturday in sporadic clashes in the sprawling slum district of Sadr City, a stronghold of al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia, officials said. No U.S. or Iraqi troop casualties were reported.
The injured in Sadr City included a school boy wounded by a stray bullet that pierced his school bag, health officials said. Elsewhere in Baghdad, eight people — including five policemen — were injured in separate attacks, officials said.
The lull in fighting came after Al-Sadr called Friday for an end to Iraqi bloodshed and said his threat of an "open war" applied only to U.S.-led foreign troops, stepping back from a full-blown confrontation with the government over a crackdown against his followers.
Al-Sadr's appeal won support of some residents of Sadr City who also have been facing shortages of food and supplies.
"He wants this city to be stable taking into consideration that the people are suffering from the deteriorating situation and from escalating prices," said 42-year-old Naji Mohammed, a father of three.
"In general, people in Sadr City are very happy about this decision. I think Mahdi Army elements are also happy about it, but till now the situation has not changed yet in Sadr City," he added.
Other residents were worried about factions within the Mahdi Army who may not be willing to observe the cease-fire. U.S. authorities claim that "special forces" trained by Iran are operating within the ranks of the Mahdi Army.
"I am afraid that some ill-intentioned groups of Mahdi Army who are disloyal to (al-Sadr) will not respect this decision," said Ayad Muhsen, 21, a college student.
Al-Sadr's militia have clashed daily with U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces since al-Maliki launched a crackdown against the militias a month ago. Last week, al-Sadr issued what he called a "final warning" to the Shiite-led government to halt its offensive or face an "open war until liberation."
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Friday set conditions for calling off the crackdown against the Mahdi army and other militias, including the unconditional handover of weapons.
During the past month, the Mahdi army has regularly lobbed rockets and mortar shells at the fortified Green Zone that houses foreign embassies and the Iraqi government. But the U.S.-led forces said they have largely pushed them out of effective range of the area.
"I'm seeing that basically since we took over south Sadr City the rocket and mortar attacks have become a lot less effective," said Lt. Col. Steve Stover, military spokesman for U.S. forces in Baghdad.
There were no major engagements that required the intervention of U.S. helicopter gunships, Stover said.
"We had no airstrikes last night. There were no major engagements last night. it was fairly quiet," he said.
Associated Press Writer Bushra Juhi contributed to this report.
Maliki offers Sadr an out: disarm the Mahdi Army
**********************EXCERPT********************
On the same day Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army, seemingly backed down from threats to call for an uprising against the government, Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki issued tough conditions that must be met for the government to end the attacks against the Mahdi Army.
Maliki said the government would halts its operations against the Mahdi Army if the militia turns in its weapons, turns over wanted members, provides the names of those behind recent violence, and agrees to "cease interference in the affairs of the state," The Associated Press reported Friday. Sadr has refused to disarm and disband the Mahdi Army in the past.
Earlier on Friday, Sadr backtracked on a statement made last weekend where he threatened to conduct a third uprising. Sadr said he would strike at US and Coalition forces and not rise up against the Iraqi government. He then threatened the government if it did not eject "militias" from the security forces.
Iraqi Army clashes with Mahdi Army outside Sadr City
News ping!
Have we turned another corner? ;)
Now let us see if Maliki has the berries to stand behind his words and make it happen.
Where outside SC, I wonder?
He has so far.
Basrah is now mostly ISF controlled.
I suspect that he will hold off a bit on Sadr City until he can redeploy 1st Division from Basrah. The PM will want them available as backup.
JAM is turning out to be much weaker than claimed...
I think he will this time. He's been standing firm for over a month now and he knows he's in it to the finish now.
I must say, I'm impressed. Maliki used to come across as wimpy and overly Iran-friendly. I'm not sure what changed his stance and subsequently his leadership approach, but I like it.
One item...
An additional five Mahdi Army fighters were killed in the Qahira neighborhood just outside of Sadr City.
Kill all the Sadrists
Here's a little example of al-Maliki's U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces in Sadr City - WE trained 'em good, and one thing they know for sure is the meaning of "GO-GO-GO!" (The big angry bee sound is today's version of the Gatling Gun)
Love this video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=3tMDhVu-f2Q
Live link next post
That looks like the stuff out of WWII.....
Reloading?
There's nothing to be afraid of Ayad, loyal or disloyal, they are due for their white burial shroud...now you go back to college and stop being a mouthpiece for your Iranian puppeteers.
We heard this duplicitous rubbish from Arafat...'I told them to stop it but they won't listen to me...'
Thanks for the memories.
Thanks Ernest_at_the_Beach. I’d say “g’night all”, but that never works.
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