Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki supervises fighting in Basra
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The political movement of powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has launched a nationwide civil disobedience campaign across Iraq to protest raids and detentions against the group.
Tuesday's move came amid fierce fighting between Iraqi security forces and al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in the southern city of Basra, where at least 12 people have died and 32 others were wounded. Similar clashes also erupted in several of Baghdad's Shiite neighborhoods.
The discord also threatens to unravel a much-praised suspension over the summer of Mehdi Army militia activity, and its collapse could spark renewed sectarian violence and prompt the United States to delay any troop withdrawals.
The U.S. military says the cease-fire has led to a decrease of sectarian violence in Iraq, but the Americans and the Iraqi Army have continued to target Mehdi Army followers who have ignored the agreement. Read analysis on what the battle means
The Sadrist movement, however, believes troops have unfairly targeted militia members, and two days ago, tribal leaders affiliated with the movement came up with three demands for Iraqi government authorities: a halt in raids, the release of detainees and an apology.
But Nassar al-Rubaie, an al-Sadr official, told reporters on Tuesday that those demands were not met, prompting the group to call for civil disobedience, such as closing businesses and staying out of school, as well as street demonstrations. Watch as Sadrists call for protests »
"We call all citizens to join the civil disobedience," al-Rubaie said.
The movement has been upset lately with military operations targeting militia members, such as recent operations in the southeastern city of Kut, and the arrests of Sadrist movement senior leaders.
Al-Rubaie said government security forces comprise rival militias that have killed, tortured and arrested innocents.
Followers of al-Sadr have also been in the middle of intra-Shiite power struggles in southern Iraqi towns.
In Basra, the Sadrists, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and the Fadhila party have power and influence. Violent rivalries among Shiites have been predicted by many observers ahead of the provincial elections in Iraq, which are to be held by October 1.
Al-Rubaie tied the violence against the Sadrists to the provincial elections runup.
"The police and army forces are used for political reasons," al-Rubaie said.
In eastern Baghdad, clashes erupted between militia members and Iraqi soldiers in al-Hamza Square at the edge of Sadr City, a Mehdi Army bastion. Fighting then spread to other neighborhoods -- Sadr City, Shaab, Zuhor, Amin, Tobchi and Maamel.
An Interior Ministry official told CNN that gunmen attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint in the Maamel neighborhood of eastern Baghdad, also at the edge of Sadr City, and kidnapped six police officers.
Attackers wielding small arms in Tobchi attacked the office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the influential Shiite religious figure, the official said. Iraqi security forces have gained control of the area and the office is under their protection.
In the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Abu Disher, the civil disobedience campaign took hold, with stores closing and protesters taking to the streets. The Interior Ministry said civil disobedience tactics were seen in five Baghdad neighborhoods.
The Mehdi Army members also appeared on the streets of Mahmoudiya and Yusufiya, towns south of Baghdad, in a show of force. And in Kut, local authorities imposed a curfew in light of the fighting in Baghdad and Basra.
There were no immediate details about casualties in Baghdad, and officials and clerics issued calls for calm.
In southern Iraq, security forces were battling Shiite militia members in the oil-rich city of Basra -- and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was personally directing the operation, officials said.
A Basra city council official said the fighting erupted when security forces entered strongholds of the Mehdi Army militia.
Al-Sadr, a powerful and popular figure in Iraq's Shiite communities, in August announced a six-month suspension of Mehdi Army activity that was renewed last month. Many fighters have heeded the cease-fire, which the U.S. military says has helped reduce violence.
Followers of al-Sadr have also been in the middle of intra-Shiite power struggles in southern Iraqi towns. In Basra, the Sadrists, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, and the Fadhila party have power and influence.
Residents of Basra earlier this month demonstrated for better security in the city, an area where kidnappings, murders and thefts have risen since British troops in December handed over responsibility for the province to Iraqi soldiers and police.
Other developments
At least four al Qaeda in Iraq members were killed in volatile Diyala province on Sunday in two military raids, the U.S. military said Tuesday.
One was wounded and eight others were detained in the operations, the latest in ongoing raids across the province -- where U.S. and Iraqi troops have been fighting insurgents, including the largely Sunni al Qaeda in Iraq group.
The military also reported a roadside bombing on Sunday that killed two children and wounded two civilians. It occurred in Khatoon, north of the Diyala provincial capital of Baquba.
Diyala is an ethnically and religiously mixed province that stretches north and east of Baghdad and borders Iran.
The U.S. military also said it had determined that six people killed and two people wounded in an American helicopter strike near Samarra on Saturday were prospective pro-U.S. militia members -- not "terrorists" as previously suspected.
Maj. Bradford Leighton told CNN that the people had been acting suspiciously "but it now appears that they were not doing anything wrong." He said that the strike could have been avoided if a local working to form a pro-U.S. militia group told American troops the men would be in the area.
I'm getting live feeds on this as we speak but I can't make sense of it yet. From what I have been able to piece together, Muqtada al Sadr has claimed a no-confidence in Maliki's government and accuses another rival party of inflitrating it some time after his party staged a walk out. He also believes that he is being targeted by the U.S. who wants him out of the picture and has demonstrated their hold on Maliki. Al Jazeera claims he tried to contact Arab countries for support, but they mistrusted his motives. He ordered his men to fall-back because he feared American terrorism - eg; another Fallujah and didn't want to risk civilian lives lost by air strikes on Sadr City and other residential areas. It's all pretty messy, but he seems to believe this other Shia party was involved in the bombing of a mosque... in which two minerets were destroyed.
I'm getting live feeds on this as we speak but I can't make sense of it yet. From what I have been able to piece together, Muqtada al Sadr has claimed a no-confidence in Maliki's government and accuses another rival party of inflitrating it some time after his party staged a walk out. He also believes that he is being targeted by the U.S. who wants him out of the picture and has demonstrated their hold on Maliki. Al Jazeera claims he tried to contact Arab countries for support, but they mistrusted his motives. He ordered his men to fall-back because he feared American terrorism - eg; another Fallujah and didn't want to risk civilian lives lost by air strikes on Sadr City and other residential areas. It's all pretty messy, but he seems to believe this other Shia party was involved in the bombing of a mosque... in which two minerets were destroyed.
The Ninth Scribe
This is good, what terrorist act did the US enact on the people of Fallejah? Now be careful to remember you aren't the only person with non US contacts in Iraq.
I can't believe that these militias have majority public support - especially given that (they seem to have) become little more than mafias. Since this is an Iraqi government initiative (apparently they didn't even tell the American's and British) and the Iraqi government is largely Shia, hopefully this situation will resolve itself without too much bloodshed. Sadr is too smart to launch a probably suicidal insurrection against the government, especially when he clearly wants politcial power himself.
I can't believe that these militias have majority public support - especially given that (they seem to have) become little more than mafias. Since this is an Iraqi government initiative (apparently they didn't even tell the American's and British) and the Iraqi government is largely Shia, hopefully this situation will resolve itself without too much bloodshed. Sadr is too smart to launch a probably suicidal insurrection against the government, especially when he clearly wants politcial power himself.
The uprising is already over. The Mahdi militia is laying down their arms.
This is good, what terrorist act did the US enact on the people of Fallejah? Now be careful to remember you aren't the only person with non US contacts in Iraq.
Yes, but terrorism is just a matter of perception. Bush recently defined terrorists as people who were willing to kill to accomplish their agendas. Seems to me, he's been willing to kill to accomplish his in both Iraq and Afghanistan - so what's the difference?
Yes, I know, war is hell - and the poor civilians who are killed in the mix are forfiet, pure and simple. That was the established reality of Fallujah. Sure the military dropped lots of leaflets telling everyone to leave, but much like New Orleans, not everyone could... even with days of advance warning!
If Muqtada didn't fold, war-planes would take out Sadr City and they would simply blame the civilian death toll on the conflict as they have in the past. I accept the term "American terrorism" because America invaded Iraq without just cause and I would expect Iraqis to fight that injustice. It's a matter of diginity. I also have no-confidence in Maliki because he's just Bush with an Iraqi face.
Not everyone considers civilian lives as forfeit.
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 03-31-2008 at 06:56 PM.
Sadr is too smart to launch a probably suicidal insurrection against the government, especially when he clearly wants politcial power himself.
Yes, the irony is very telling. It's been one of my critiques too. He only acquired power in office because the U.S. toppled Saddam, yet he complains when his power is limited by them. Apart from that contradiction, there is something about him that mystifies me. I just can't figure it out yet.
Yes, but terrorism is just a matter of perception. Bush recently defined terrorists as people who were willing to kill to accomplish their agendas. Seems to me, he's been willing to kill to accomplish his in both Iraq and Afghanistan - so what's the difference?
Yes, I know, war is hell - and the poor civilians who are killed in the mix are forfiet, pure and simple. That was the established reality of Fallujah. Sure the military dropped lots of leaflets telling everyone to leave, but much like New Orleans, not everyone could... even with days of advance warning!
If Muqtada didn't fold, war-planes would take out Sadr City and they would simply blame the civilian death toll on the conflict as they have in the past. I accept the term "American terrorism" because America invaded Iraq without just cause and I would expect Iraqis to fight that injustice. It's a matter of diginity. I also have no-confidence in Maliki because he's just Bush with an Iraqi face.
Not everyone considers civilian lives as forfeit.
The Ninth Scribe
So are you admiting Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh was a terrorist?
Yes, the irony is very telling. It's been one of my critiques too. He only acquired power in office because the U.S. toppled Saddam, yet he complains when his power is limited by them. Apart from that contradiction, there is something about him that mystifies me. I just can't figure it out yet.
The Ninth Scribe
This is a Maliki operation not US. Actually the US was caught off guard.
Certainly not! His position was defensive and he didn't invade Iraq, but he did answer the call for help in defending it against the invaders.
New Name?
No, I always read up on people who reply to my posts. I've lurked here for about 2 weeks before actually posting. As for Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh, he is Jordanian and was not welcomed in Iraq. He is responsible for the death of my cousin because my uncle refused to join him. He wasn't Mujahid he was a worthless thug. My family saw what he and his men did and to us he was a terrorist.
No, I always read up on people who reply to my posts. I've lurked here for about 2 weeks before actually posting. As for Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh, he is Jordanian and was not welcomed in Iraq. He is responsible for the death of my cousin because my uncle refused to join him. He wasn't Mujahid he was a worthless thug. My family saw what he and his men did and to us he was a terrorist.
Well, that "terrorist" was encouraged by America to travel to Afghanistan, so I dismiss the whole "foreign" fighter debate, and he didn't just show up on his own accord. He was invited by an Iraqi group to help. Every group who has fought in Iraq has made mistakes and has been messy - but NONE of them invaded Iraq - that's all on Bush! I just wish you could have spoken to the man you're calling a worthless thug. He had some remarkable qualities and made himself available on forums because he wanted guidance. I'm sorry for your cousin, but that wasn't his fault. It's the fault of the scholars who teach that if your land is invaded you are duty bound to make Jihad to defend it - and, by the way... this happens to be America's belief too, only we call it a "draft" rather than a religious obligation.
My eyes were never on the soldiers (Mujahideen). My eyes have always been on the scholars because they command the Mujahideen. For heaven's sake 9-11 wouldn't have even happened had it not been for a scholar writing a permission to allow it. And I'm not in a position to pick and choose between the scholars for the ones who agree with me. I have to hear them all out, every last one. I'm not pleased with what I've heard, but this isn't for my entertainment.
The Ninth Scribe
Last edited by Ninth_Scribe; 03-31-2008 at 08:54 PM.
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