Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 5, 2008 5:48:51 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Baghdad Curfew Lifted; Basra Violence Slows

Posted Mar 31, 08 8:31 AM CDT in World    Most Covered

(Newser) – Baghdad authorities lifted a 3-day-old curfew today as violence ebbed and soldiers from Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army began to heed his call yesterday to stand down, reports the AFP. The southern city of Basra also eased its curfew as 6 days of violent clashes wound down, although the BBC reported sporadic gunfire and parts of the city that were still under Mahdi Army control.

Mahdi militants "are following Sadr's orders," one soldier said. "But we are ready, should the Americans come inside our district, to fight." The US military today reported an additional 41 deaths of "criminals," which brought the 6-day fatality total to more than 320. 

Sources AFP, BBC

Editor Recommended

Related News

  • Green Zone Strike Kills 2 in Sandstorm

    Apr 27, 08 6:35 PM CDT
    Green Zone Strike Kills 2 in Sandstorm Hidden in a sandstorm, militants struck the US-protected Green Zone in Baghdad today and killed at least two Iraqis, the Los Angeles Times reports. The mortar or rocket attack, which also wounded 25, came just 2 days after influential cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered members of his Mahdi Army to end recent fighting. More »

  • Iraqi Troops Seize Sadr Stronghold

    Apr 19, 08 9:11 AM CDT
    Iraqi Troops Seize Sadr Stronghold In a major new clash, Iraqi troops backed by American and British firepower today captured a stronghold of fighters loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Basra, said Iraqi officials. In a show of force, American planes and British artillery attacked a deserted area outside the Sadr-controlled section of Hayaniya before Iraqi troops moved into the neighborhood and seized the center, Reuters reports. More »

  • Death of Sadr Aide Sparks Battles in Baghdad

    Apr 11, 08 8:02 PM CDT
    Death of Sadr Aide Sparks Battles in Baghdad The murder of a Moqtada al-Sadr aide triggered heavy fighting in Baghdad today after al-Sadr’s men attacked US and Iraqi forces, Reuters reports. The cleric blamed “the hand of the occupier” for the death of Riyadh al-Nuri, a close relative, and vowed not to forget “this precious blood.” A US commander told CNN that battles broke out when a US patrol, backing Iraqi forces, ran into 10 roadside bombs and sustained heavy fire. More »

  • Al-Sadr Orders His Militia Off Streets of Basra

    Mar 30, 08 5:15 PM CDT
    Al-Sadr Orders His Militia Off Streets of Basra Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his fighters to leave the streets of Basra and other cities, reports the BBC, in an effort to end clashes with security forces. “Anyone carrying a weapon and targeting government institutions will not be one of us,” Sadr said, but minutes after his statement was released, militia shells hit Basra’s palace, and attacks on the Green Zone persisted throughout the day. More »

  • US Joins Basra Battle; Maliki Extends Deadline

    Mar 28, 08 8:18 AM CDT
    US Joins Basra Battle; Maliki Extends Deadline Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki today gave Shia militants in Basra 10 more days to turn over their weapons, as fighting continued in Iraq’s third largest city. The US, meanwhile, made its first moves in the fight, bombing Mahdi Army positions, the BBC reports. Muqtada al Sadr, the radical cleric who leads the Shia militias, called last night for a political solution to end the fighting that has claimed 130 lives. More »

Men clean up the al-Qaim mosque after it was damaged in an airstrike, in Basra, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008. One person was killed in the airstrike, police said.   (AP Photo)
A man grieves for his brother during a funeral in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008.   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Iraqis march during a funeral during a sandstorm in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008. The funeral was for five persons, including two children, who were killed...   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Four year old Ghazi Askar lies in hospital in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008. The boy was wounded in clashes Sunday between the Mahdi Army and government forces...   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
Four year old Ghazi Askar lies in hospital in the Shiite enclave of Sadr City in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008. The boy was wounded in clashes Sunday between the Mahdi Army and government forces...   (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)
A man holds up a damaged Quran in the al-Qaim mosque, after it was hit by an airstrike, in Basra, Iraq, Monday, March 31, 2008. One person was killed in the airstrike, police said.   (AP Photo)
prev    next
play

Threads (1 of 2)

Tags

Baghdad  • Muqtada al-Sadr  • Basra  • Green Zone  • ceasefire  • curfew


Loading...

Loading...

Related Threads: Iraq Civil War, Al-Sadr's War

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular


Other World Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »