Al-Sadr orders militia fighters to stop fighting in Iraq
Sunday, 30 Mar 2008 19:48
British troops handed over control of Basra to Iraqi forces recently
Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has ordered his militia fighters off the streets of Basra and other cities in an attempt to end the violent clashes with government forces.
Mr al-Sadr released a nine-point statement today calling on the Iraqi government to give his supporters amnesty and release any followers that are being held.
"We announce our disavowal from anyone who carries weapons and targets government institutions, charities and political party offices," the statement said.
"Because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood being shed, and to maintain the unity of Iraq and to put an end to this sedition that the occupiers and their followers want to spread among the Iraqi people, 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 called for his supporters to work with the Iraq government to achieve greater security in the country.
Earlier today, the government imposed an indefinite curfew in Baghdad as fighting between troops and the militia continued.
Clashes began in the town of Basra last week and have spread throughout Iraq claiming around 240 lives. The Iraqi government had previously provided an ultimatum to the Mehdi Army militia headed by Mr al-Sadr asking it to disarm within three days.
The demand was rejected by the Shia leader and the deadline to exchange weapons for arms has now been extended to April 8th. In a statement today, Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki warned that the government would not back down in the face of violence.
He added the threat posed by the sectarian militia was "worse than al-Qaida", saying that both groups wanted to see the political process in the country fail.
The Iraqi premier said: "Our determination is strong. We will not leave Basra until security is restored, those who break the law are punished and those who draw their weapons in the face of the state are punished.
"Unfortunately we were talking about Al-Qaida but there are some among us who are worse than Al-Qaida. Al-Qaida is killing innocents, Al-Qaida is destroying establishments and they (Shi'ite gunmen) also," he said.
Yesterday, British troops fired mortars on militia positions in Basra in support of Iraqi government forces in the first offensive move in support of the operation.
British forces withdrew to the Basra air base last year and are committed to an 'overwatch' role in which their primary responsibility is to train Iraqi forces.
US president George Bush has called the operations against the Shia militia "a defining moment in the history of a free Iraq" and coalition forces have conducted air strikes in support of the Iraqi government.