Al-Sadr threatens to end cease-fire - 2 minutes ago

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080408/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA, Associated Press Writer
2 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr threatened Tuesday to lift a seven-month freeze on his Mahdi Army militia if the Iraqi government does not halt attacks on his followers or set a timetable for a U.S. withdrawal.

The statement came from his office hours before the top two U.S. officials in Iraq — Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker — planned to brief Congress on the situation in Iraq and prospects for drawing down American troops.

"I call on the Iraqi government, if it exists, to work for the protection of the Iraqi people, stop the bloodshed and the abuse of its honor," al-Sadr said. "If the public interest dictates the lifting of the freeze to achieve our goals, beliefs, religion, principles and patriotism we shall do that later."

U.S. and Iraqi troops stepped up their pressure on Mahdi Army militiamen in their Baghdad stronghold of Sadr City, where fighting broke out again early Tuesday after Iraqi units tried to enter the area, a police officer said.

Explosions could be heard across the capital, apparently coming from the neighborhood in eastern Baghdad. Low-flying jets circled the center of the capital several hours before sunrise.

The two sides were using small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, said the police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information to the media.

Fifteen civilians were wounded in the clashes, he said.

Using typical rhetoric to refer to U.S. forces, al-Sadr said the government should "protect the Iraqi people from the booby traps and American militias" and "demand the withdrawal of the occupier or a schedule for its withdrawal from our holy land."

[dkf]

1. The surge is a crock...any success or lack thereof is due to the whims of Al Sadr

Iraq is more of a mess than I thought it would be. It isn't Shia vs Sunni vs Kurd, its Shia vs Shia vs Sunni vs Kurd.

[stillcool]

2. The 'surge' to get ..

the U.S. out of Iraq is the only one that will work.

[kentuck]

3. Bush needs more $$$..

Now we got to pay off some more people to not kill us.

[riderinthestorm]

4. al-Sadr's statement came in hours ago....

So of course, Betrayus and Crock-o-shit will feign ignorance when (I hope) one of the committee people bring it up today. Anyone want to take bets that these two ass clowns will claim they haven't seen it yet? Stall, stall, delay, delay - anything but answer the REALITY of what's happening over there, especially on live teevee....