Iraq battles with al-Sadr supporters in Basra and Baghdad
Wednesday, 26 Mar 2008 20:02
Heavy fighting breaks out between Mahdi army and Iraqi troops in Baghdad and Basra
The Iraqi army has clashed with supporters of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for the second day running, with fighting spreading to Baghdad.
At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 wounded following gun-battles between al-Sadr loyalists and Iraqi and US troops in Sadr City.
Fighting in the capital echoes violence in Basra, where rogue aspects of al-Sadr's Mahdi army have been battling Iraqi troops for two days.
Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has given the fighters in the country's second city until Friday to surrender.
"Those who were deceived into carry weapons must deliver themselves and make a written pledge to promise they will not repeat such action within 72 hours," he said on Wednesday.
"Otherwise, they will face the most severe penalties."
The Mahdi army is technically still honouring a ceasefire with US troops announced by al-Sadr last summer.
The radical Shia Muslim cleric has called on supporters to take to the streets in protest at the Iraqi and coalition troops' actions as the truce nears collapse.
"We demand that religious and political leaders intervene to stop the attacks on poor people," a Mahdi army spokesperson said.
"We call on all Iraqis to launch protests across all the provinces. If the government does not respect these demands, the second step will be general civil disobedience in Baghdad and the Iraqi provinces."
The violence in Iraq's two main cities has been compounded by the serious wounds sustained by three Americans at the US embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone following a mortar attack.