.…..Update.…
Press conference on Iraqi TV right now by the Sadrists, they insist that Mahdi Army still keeps its arms and will not hand them over to the government. [when he said this TV cuts the broadcast]
The Iraqi government sent a delegation [from Badr Brigade, Al-Adib and Al-Amri] to Qom — Iran to negotiate Al-Sadr before the truce declaration, notice the Al-Sadr demands are the same and the government accepted them. [even before the violence started their demands are to stop the raids, to end the arrests of the Sadrists].
.…..End update.….
After the killing of Maliki’s security adviser “Hassan Al-Kadhmi” by Mahdi Army in Basra today and according to Wasat Online, the Iraqi government and the Sadrists reached an agreement of nine points [Image if the Al-Sadr statement including the 9 points], no details reported about the details of these points [that will be expected in the coming 2 hours in an official statement], the newspaper says that among the points is the withdrawal of the Iraqi and American forces from Basra, stop the raids against the Sadrists, Maliki to return to Baghdad in 48 hour followed by the ministers [Defense and Interior].
Furthermore, Sadr’s offer included other terms as well, which the western media have not reported. Arab sources indicate that Sadr’s nine-point proposal demands the withdrawal of Iraqi and US forces from Basra and, even more embarrassingly, theretreat of Maliki and his Defense and Interior ministersfrom Basra back to Baghdad within 48 hours. With the acceptance of his ‘compromise’, Sadr solidifies his power base in Basra. This Iraqi press release shows the extent to which Maliki has lost face:
the Iraqi people to stop this bloodshed and maintain Iraq’s independence and stability,” al-Sadr said in a statement released on Sunday. “For that we have decided to withdraw [al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army] from the streets of Basra and all other provinces.“Mahdi Army keeps the arms: Press conference on Iraqi TV right now by the Sadrists, they insist that Mahdi Army still keeps its arms and will not hand them over to the government. Iraqi gov’t lifts curfew after 4 days : The office of Baghdad’s chief military spokesman says the
crackdown that provoked widespread retaliatory clashes in the capital and across the southern Shiite heartland. By the way, did anyone else notice that Maliki appears to have kept to a timetable of leaving Basra within 48 hours of Sadr’s ceasefire — asreportedby some nationalist Iraqi media — whether or not such an agreement was part of Sadr’s official statement. Coincidence? Reuters adds that there are reports of sporadic clashes, but that the Iraqi Army commander has denied there’s any new fighting.
s offer included other terms as well, which the western media have not reported. Arab sources indicate that Sadr’s nine-point proposal demands the withdrawal of Iraqi and US forces from Basra and, even more embarrassingly, theretreat of Maliki and his Defense and Interior ministersfrom Basra back to Baghdad within 48 hours. With the acceptance of his ‘compromise’, Sadr solidifies his power base in Basra. This Iraqi press release shows the extent to which Maliki has lost face:
1.Sadrists and Iraqi government reached an agreement in Basra…update…Mahdi Army keeps the armswww.roadstoiraq.com2 commentsSocialRank According to Wasat Online, the Iraqi government and the Sadrists reached an agreement of nine points, no details reported about the details of these points [that will be expected in the coming 2 hours in an
The government’s plan to win control of Basra may now be abandoned, after more than 300 deaths. Its authority was further damaged when soldiers were shown on television handing over their weapons to the Mehdi Army.The Roads to Iraq websiteis carrying more saying that al Sadr has given the Iraqi government a 9 point list, which the government have agreed to, as his conditions for a ceasefire: The newspaper says that among the points is the withdrawal of the Iraqi and American forces from
[…] click here if the article does not […]
[…] an amnesty.What the Western media are less keen, seemingly, to report are Sadr’s other demands. The Roads To Iraq website writes:After the killing of Maliki’s security adviser “Hassan Al-Kadhmi” […]
[…] :: Article nr. 42573 sent on 30-mar-2008 19:44 ECT http://www.uruknet.info?p=42573Link: http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/03/30/sadrists-and-iraqi-government-reached-an-agreemen t-…:: The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author and do not […]
[…] demands the withdrawal of Iraqi and US forces from Basra and, even more embarrassingly, the retreat of Maliki and his Defense and Interior ministers from Basra back to Baghdad within 48 hours. With the acceptance of his ‘compromise’, Sadr […]
[…] This is from “Roads to Iraq”. Is it true? Dunno. If it is, Maliki blinked big time. Sadrists and Iraqi government reached an agreement in Basra…update…Mahdi Army keeps the arms […]
[…] demands the withdrawal of Iraqi and US forces from Basra and, even more embarrassingly, the retreat of Maliki and his Defense and Interior ministers from Basra back to Baghdad within 48 hours. With the acceptance of his ‘compromise’, Sadr […]
[…] within the past week I stumbled upon a new blog, Roads To Iraq, about which I know very little, but the writer of which seems pretty closely plugged into what’s […]
[…] to Wasat Online, the Iraqi government and the Sadrists reached an agreement of nine points” http://www.roadstoiraq.com/2008/…fight-in-basra/ Bruno | Homepage | 03.31.08 — 3:20 am | […]
[…] further damaged when soldiers were shown on television handing over their weapons to the Mehdi Army.The Roads to Iraq website is carrying more saying that al Sadr has given the Iraqi government a 9 point list, which the […]
[…] mainstream media can attempt to make the cease fire look like capitulation on al-Sadr’s part and leave out the more interesting of the nine points, but the bottom line is that Makiki ‘s purpose in Basra was to take the weapons from al-Sadr’s […]