March 30, 2008
Al-Sadr Asks For Truce, Tells Mahdi Army to Stand Down
Looks like Mookie's had enough.
The Iraqi Government is either hurting Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army badly, or al-Sadr wants to conserve forces for a later confrontation. Al-Sadr has ordered his gunmen off the streets.
From the Associated Press:
BAGHDAD (AP) - Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said Sunday that he was pulling his fighters off the streets nationwide and called on the government to stop raids against his followers and free them from prison.Hat tip: Kastrioti Skenderbeg.The Iraqi government quickly welcomed al-Sadr's apparent move to resolve a widening conflict with his movement, sparked Tuesday by operations against his backers in the oil-rich southern city of Basra.
Al-Sadr's nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf and broadcast through loudspeakers on Shiite mosques. It said the first point was: "taking gunmen off the streets in Basra and elsewhere."
By Bluto | l digg this
