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Fresh clashes break out in Basra Fresh clashes break out in Basra
(about 1 hour later)
There has been fresh fighting in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, as Iraqi security forces battle Shia militants for a second day. There has been fresh fighting in the southern Iraqi city of Basra and elsewhere, as Iraqi security forces battle Shia militants for a second day.
Police and witnesses report heavy clashes in five districts. More than 40 people are said to have died overall. Police and witnesses report clashes in five districts of Basra. More than 40 people are said to have died overall.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has given militants 72 hours to lay down their arms or face penalties. Fighting is continuing in Baghdad, and there have been casualties after rockets were fired at the Green Zone.
Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has given militants 72 hours to lay down their arms or face "severe penalties".
His campaign to "re-impose law" in the city triggered fighting elsewhere in Iraq, and many towns are under curfew.His campaign to "re-impose law" in the city triggered fighting elsewhere in Iraq, and many towns are under curfew.
In Baghdad's Sadr City, clashes continued overnight and civilians are feared to be among at least 14 people killed.
Unrest in Basra has been stoked by a variety of militias and criminal gangs.Unrest in Basra has been stoked by a variety of militias and criminal gangs.
But the government's unspoken intent is to stop it falling under the sway of the Mehdi Army, led by the radical young cleric Moqtada Sadr, BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says.But the government's unspoken intent is to stop it falling under the sway of the Mehdi Army, led by the radical young cleric Moqtada Sadr, BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says.
Clashes continueClashes continue
After an overnight lull, the fighting erupted anew in Basra on Wednesday.After an overnight lull, the fighting erupted anew in Basra on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Maliki made a brave decision Dana PerinoWhite House spokeswoman In pictures: Iraq unrestShia strife threatens IraqWhat is the Mehdi Army?Prime Minister Maliki made a brave decision Dana PerinoWhite House spokeswoman In pictures: Iraq unrestShia strife threatens IraqWhat is the Mehdi Army?
The AFP news agency quoted witnesses in Basra as saying the fighting was concentrated on the districts of Gazaiza, Garma, Khmasamene, Hayania and Maqal.The AFP news agency quoted witnesses in Basra as saying the fighting was concentrated on the districts of Gazaiza, Garma, Khmasamene, Hayania and Maqal.
Health and military officials now say more than 40 people have been killed in the fighting, and more than 100 hurt. It is unclear how many are militants, soldiers and civilians.Health and military officials now say more than 40 people have been killed in the fighting, and more than 100 hurt. It is unclear how many are militants, soldiers and civilians.
Reports suggest that the fighting is not on the same scale on Tuesday but, where there was no fighting, Basra's streets remained deserted even after the night curfew ended at 0600 (0300 GMT).Reports suggest that the fighting is not on the same scale on Tuesday but, where there was no fighting, Basra's streets remained deserted even after the night curfew ended at 0600 (0300 GMT).
In Baghdad, several mortars or rockets were fired at the Green Zone, the diplomatic and government compound.
Five Iraqi civilians were killed when one fell short, while inside the heavily fortified zone three Americans were seriously injured.
In Sadr City, a vast Shia suburb in the capital, there were overnight clashes between Mehdi Army fighters and American and Iraqi soldiers.In Sadr City, a vast Shia suburb in the capital, there were overnight clashes between Mehdi Army fighters and American and Iraqi soldiers.
Moqtada Sadr has threatened "general civil disobedience" In Sadr City, shop owners inspected damage done overnight
As well at least 14 deaths, at least 100 people have been injured, according to a medical source and an official at Iraq's interior ministry. Twenty people died in the violence and at least 115 people have been injured, according to police.
Here and in other Shia areas of Iraq, many shops and offices are shuttered, indicating many people are following Moqtada Sadr's call for a campaign of civil disobedience.Here and in other Shia areas of Iraq, many shops and offices are shuttered, indicating many people are following Moqtada Sadr's call for a campaign of civil disobedience.
As well as Basra, police curfews have been imposed in Kut, Samawa, Nasiriya, Hilla and Diwaniya. In a separate incident, US forces battling suspected al-Qaeda insurgents in the northern town of Tikrit say they injured or killed "several Iraqi civilians" in an airstrike.
'Stiff resistance' Iraqi sources say at least five are dead, including a judge.
Reporters were kept away from areas of heavy fighting in Basra on Tuesday, and it was unclear who had the upper hand. Ultimatum
In a statement, Mr Maliki gave militants a 72-hour deadline to lay down their arms - or face "the most severe penalties", Reuters news agency reported. In a statement, Mr Maliki gave militants a 72-hour deadline to lay down their arms and sign a pledge renouncing violence.
"Otherwise, they will face the most severe penalties," he said in the statement which was broadcast by state television.
The Basra operation is being personally led by Mr Maliki, a fact hailed by Washington.The Basra operation is being personally led by Mr Maliki, a fact hailed by Washington.
"Prime Minister Maliki made a brave decision to go into a very difficult situation where you have terrorists and insurgents that have infested the area," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino."Prime Minister Maliki made a brave decision to go into a very difficult situation where you have terrorists and insurgents that have infested the area," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.
The operation, she insisted, was "Iraqi-led and Iraqi-initiated". The operation, she said, was "Iraqi-led and Iraqi-initiated".
"This is what we've been wanting to see the Iraqis do - take on more responsibility."
RiskRisk
Sadrists are convinced it is an attempt to weaken them ahead of provincial elections due in October, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy. Sadrists are convinced the operation is an attempt to weaken them ahead of provincial elections due in October, says BBC Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.
But Mr Maliki has embarked on a highly risky strategy, he says.But Mr Maliki has embarked on a highly risky strategy, he says.
For one thing, it is far from clear that it will succeed.For one thing, it is far from clear that it will succeed.
The Sadrist movement enjoys widespread support, especially among the young and the poor, and is well entrenched in Basra and many other predominantly Shia towns and cities in the south.The Sadrist movement enjoys widespread support, especially among the young and the poor, and is well entrenched in Basra and many other predominantly Shia towns and cities in the south.
For another, if the ceasefire which the Sadrists have largely followed since last summer were to collapse, that would seriously undermine claims by the government - and by the Bush administration in Washington - that Iraq had somehow turned a corner and was moving from civil war to political reconciliation.For another, if the ceasefire which the Sadrists have largely followed since last summer were to collapse, that would seriously undermine claims by the government - and by the Bush administration in Washington - that Iraq had somehow turned a corner and was moving from civil war to political reconciliation.
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