Third Day Of Fighting Takes Over Iraq
Intense fighting between Iraqi Shiite militiamen and US And Iraqi forces has been raging in Iraq over the past three days. The fighting threatens to end a Mahdi Army cease-fire that is credited for many security gains in Iraq. Below are a couple reports on the violence and discontent throughout the country:
AP: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki Says He'll Pursue Fight To "The End"
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is promising to pursue his fight against Shiite militias in Basra to "the end."
Al-Maliki made his pledge to Basra area tribal leaders Thursday as military operations against the militias continued for a fourth day despite stiff resistance.
AP: Green Zone Hit For Fourth Day This Week:
Shiite militants are hammering the U.S.-protected Green Zone with rockets and mortars for the fourth day this week.
Thick, black smoke is billowing from inside the heavily fortified home to the U.S. Embassy and Iraqi government.
AP: Tens Of Thousands Of Shiites Protest:
Tens of thousands of Shiites took to Baghdad's streets to protest the government crackdown on militias in Basra as heavy fighting between Iraqi security forces and gunmen erupted for a third day in the southern oil port and the capital.
Iraqi officials reported 17 more people killed in overnight clashes in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City and raised the number of deaths from fighting in the southern city of Hillah to at least 60.
Mounting anger focused on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite who is personally overseeing an operation against Shiite militias dominated by followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr amid a violent power struggle in Basra, Iraq's southern oil hub near the Iranian border.
Loading comments…
Huffington Post
First Posted: 03-27-08 08:52 AM | Updated: 04- 4-08 05:12 AM