Moqtada al-Sadr orders Iraq PM out of Basra

Telegraph UK ^ | 2:53am GMT 27/03/2008 | Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

The Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has demanded that the country's prime minister leave Basra where he is overseeing a military operation to purge the southern city of its radical Shi'ite militiamen.

• SAS trooper shot dead in al-Qa'eda raid
• Q&A: Who is Moqtada al-Sadr?

  Relations between Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki have deteriorated sharply as the two men clashed over fighting between Iraqi forces and gunmen in Sadrist communities in Iraq.

  
  An Iraqi man carries the body of his son, who was killed during clashes in Basra, during a funeral, while militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr guards a street in the city
  
  

  Mr Maliki gave followers of Sadr and other Shi'ite gunmen 72 hours to surrender their weapons and renounce violence or bear the brunt of a military crackdown.

  "We are not going to chase those who hand over their weapons within 72 hours," said Mr Maliki. "If they do not surrender their arms, the law will follow its course."

  A spokesman for Sadr said his movement had appealed to Mr Maliki to reduce tensions in the city by returning to Baghdad and sending a parliamentary delegation to seek an end to fighting.

  Liwa Sumaysim, a spokesman for Sadr said: "Sadr has asked prime minister Maliki to leave Basra and to send a parliamentary delegation to resolve the crisis in the city."

[Katarina]

Love it, doing it the American way.
YES!

[spyone]

Well, hopefully the Iraqis have more balls than we did, and realize he must be exterminated. He had a murder charge against him, and we decided in wild west fashion the rules of law don’t apply and instead of arresting him, we tried to negotiate. Pathetic. Paul Bremmer should be....

[Proud_USA_Republican]

“What’s he smoking?”

The Iranian presidents member.

[SunkenCiv]

Time to surround the neighborhood, cut off all electricity and water, and hunker down until the terrorists run out of ammo. Then level the place.

[AFPhys]

I believe that one of these days, he’s going to find himself greeted by a Hellfire missile launched from a Predator or similar.

[headstamp 2]

“The Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has demanded that the country’s prime minister leave Basra where he is overseeing a military operation to purge the southern city of its radical Shi’ite militiamen.”

I think the vapors either his rotting teeth or BO is making him high.

[Mr. Silverback]

United states Air Force, white courtesy phone...

[Mr. Silverback]

Yeah, the idea that Huckabee would do better is a real snorter.

[DoughtyOne]

It’s time for Maqtada Al to go. He’s ordered Preditor take out for the last time.

[Allegra]

Hey, Mookie or whichever slimy Iranian is issuing these ludicrous orders:

Basra is part of Iraq. You Iranian garbage have no say on what happens in Iraq. You do not issue orders to Iraq's Prime Minister or anybody else here.

Back off, Iran. We're all sick of your crap here. Take your damned bombs and get the hell out of here. NOW.

[Political Junkie Too]

I thought Sadr was in a coma -- what happened? Since that report a few weeks ago, his "office" and "aides" have been issuing statements on his behalf, or sympatheic media have printed ambiguous "interviews" from him.

Is he, or isn't he? Has he been seen by anyone?

-PJ

[Da Mav]

It sounds like Maliki has finally either grown a pair or is now able to point them out. I’m guessing he’s going after Sadr before the US reduces troop levels.

This seems like a very positive development, providing he wins a decisive victory over Sadr’s militia. A big “providing”.

It’s been really hard finding even one decent article in terms of what is going on — the liberal press is trying to spin this as a disaster. But isn’t this what we want? Iraqis standing up so that we could eventually stand down? Sounds familiar, think I’ve heard it before.

And one of the complaints from the Sunnis fighting al Qaeda with us has been that the government has been unwilling to crack down on Shiite militia. Maybe this will demonstrate a willingness to do so. Makes me a little nervous to hear the 72 hour “ultimatum”. Hopefully it doesn’t signal a lack of resolve.

Godspeed to our heroes and to our Iraqi allies.

[Dog]

Sounds like Task Force Black...part of Task Force 77.

The first of the four elements is Task Force Black. Based in the Basra area, TF Black (which is supported by Parachute Regiment troopers of Task Force Red, a separate organization) is based around a squadron of the British army's 22 Special Air Service Regiment, with integrated units from the Royal Marines Special Boat Service. TF Black is responsible for the southern portion of the country, but has participated in operations in the Baghdad area when British or Canadian hostages are involved.

[gleeaikin]

Ditto that. I thought he was in a coma from poisoning in Iran. What is going on?

[mcshot]

I think he has a get out of life’s responsibilities free card from the US Govt.

[gondramB]

How is Scientology gonna help this?

[Jumper]

Moqtada al-Sadr’s uncle, e.g., his deceased father’s brother is the FOUNDER OF HEZBOLA sitting in IRAN.

[rhombus]

Ah yes, Moqtada al-Sadr, the presumptive Democratic Party nominee for Prime Minister of Iraq.

[Dave Elias]

“Moqtada al-Sadr’s uncle, e.g., his deceased father’s brother”

I think most people know what an uncle is....

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

I thought Mookie was near death in a coma in Iran. Are Russian docs THAT good?