No stopping till Sadr City secure, says Iraq

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Iraqi forces will battle militiamen in Sadr City relentlessly until the sprawling Shiite district of east Baghdad has been cleared of gunmen, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh vowed on Sunday.

~snip~

Dabbagh told a news conference that the security forces were not specifically targeting the Mahdi Army in its nationwide crackdown on militiamen, which began in the southern port city of Basra on March 25.


"The government doesn't send its forces after any political bloc," he said. "Anyone who is carrying a weapon illegally will be prosecuted. It is not dependent on their political persuasion, whether they be in the Sadrist trend or any other bloc."

US military spokesman Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll told the joint news conference that those being targeted are "individuals who illegally carry weapons and launch attacks on law-abiding citizens and security forces."


Driscoll said that operations against "illegally armed gangs, extortion groups and other criminals" are continuing in Basra.



Read more: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/afp/080413/world/iraq_unrest_us_baghdad_10

[yourout]

1. That should take no more than a 1000 years or so.

These folks have been fighting the same wars forever.

[ohio2007]

2. No sleep til Baghdad

has done away with the gang militia problem in Sadr city


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1av8jyREEps

[gratuitous]

3. Good news for McCain

Of course, being a Republican, everything is good news for McCain, but I digress. Sure makes his promise of another 100 years of war in Iraq look doable.

[Arctic Dave]

4. Does this include multi-national forces?

They seem to be the most illegal and armed party over there. I geuss the meaning of ILLEGAL INVASION AND OCCUPATION is lost on idiots.

[madrchsod]

5. maybe we can secure our own cities first......

there`s a war going on but no one notices but those who live in it

[annabanana]

6. Didn't Maliki just demand that the Sadr's lay down it's arms?

I think he did that last week.. Al Sadr asked Sistani if he should. Sistani said no. SO. . .

Any member of the Mahdi army is the target..