2008 Woodie Awards
Iraqi Shiite cleric's aides say he will disband militia if superiors say he should
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: World
BAGHDAD - Aides to Muqtada al-Sadr called yesterday for dialogue to resolve a violent standoff with the Iraqi government, saying that the radical Shiite cleric would disband his militia if senior religious leaders ordered it.
The overture came as Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City faced continued clashes between al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia fighters and Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces.
Also yesterday, a U.S. soldier was killed by small-arms fire after a roadside bombing in Baghdad, the military said, pushing the two-day American death toll to at least eight. The attack occurred in an eastern section of the capital which has been the site of the fiercest clashes since al-Sadr ordered a cease-fire a week ago Sunday.
At least nine civilians were killed in fighting yesterday in Sadr City, including five children and two women, pushing the two-day death toll to at least 25. Dozens were wounded.
Six others died after rocket or mortar shells slammed into residential areas elsewhere, according to police.
Hundreds of residents fled the district amid the clashes and economic hardship imposed by a security cordon and a vehicle ban.
The overture came as Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City faced continued clashes between al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia fighters and Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces.
Also yesterday, a U.S. soldier was killed by small-arms fire after a roadside bombing in Baghdad, the military said, pushing the two-day American death toll to at least eight. The attack occurred in an eastern section of the capital which has been the site of the fiercest clashes since al-Sadr ordered a cease-fire a week ago Sunday.
At least nine civilians were killed in fighting yesterday in Sadr City, including five children and two women, pushing the two-day death toll to at least 25. Dozens were wounded.
Six others died after rocket or mortar shells slammed into residential areas elsewhere, according to police.
Hundreds of residents fled the district amid the clashes and economic hardship imposed by a security cordon and a vehicle ban.
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