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| Iraq extends Shia arms deadline | Iraq extends Shia arms deadline |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Iraq's government has extended by 10 days a deadline for Shia militiamen fighting troops in Basra to hand over their weapons in return for money. | Iraq's government has extended by 10 days a deadline for Shia militiamen fighting troops in Basra to hand over their weapons in return for money. |
| More than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on militias began in Basra on Tuesday. | More than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on militias began in Basra on Tuesday. |
| US-led forces joined the battle for the first time overnight, bombing Shia positions, the UK military said. | US-led forces joined the battle for the first time overnight, bombing Shia positions, the UK military said. |
| Aid agencies say the violence upsurge had made Iraq's already poor humanitarian situation "critical". | Aid agencies say the violence upsurge had made Iraq's already poor humanitarian situation "critical". |
| Speaking in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Unicef and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) called on all the warring parties to allow the passage of food and medical supplies. | Speaking in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Unicef and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) called on all the warring parties to allow the passage of food and medical supplies. |
| Water scarce | Water scarce |
| Unicef said it was gravely concerned about the health consequences for children, warning that some families had barely two days of drinking water supplies left. | Unicef said it was gravely concerned about the health consequences for children, warning that some families had barely two days of drinking water supplies left. |
| Moqtada Sadr's supporters at Friday prayers in Sadr City Amateur footage | Moqtada Sadr's supporters at Friday prayers in Sadr City Amateur footage |
| The IOM said the fighting could add to the 2m Iraqis already internally displaced. | The IOM said the fighting could add to the 2m Iraqis already internally displaced. |
| Parliament called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis, which has also brought a three-day curfew to Baghdad. | Parliament called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis, which has also brought a three-day curfew to Baghdad. |
| But just 54 MPs out of 275 managed to get inside the fortified Green Zone to attend the session, because it was under fresh bombardment from mortars and rockets. | But just 54 MPs out of 275 managed to get inside the fortified Green Zone to attend the session, because it was under fresh bombardment from mortars and rockets. |
| One of the missiles hit Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi's offices, killing at least one guard. | One of the missiles hit Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi's offices, killing at least one guard. |
| A statement from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office read: "All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from 28 March to 8 April." | A statement from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office read: "All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from 28 March to 8 April." |
| BASRA KEY FACTS Third largest city, population 2.6 million approxLocated on the Shatt al-Arab waterway leading to the GulfRegion around city has substantial oil resources4,000 UK troops based at international airport Battles threaten fragile IraqClashes in picturesInvasion right, says Bush class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/7314818.stm">Basra voices: Life under fire | |
| No reason was given for the deadline extension. | No reason was given for the deadline extension. |
| BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the extension indicates that either the military solution is proving far more difficult than Mr Maliki thought or there are behind-the-scenes efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution. | BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the extension indicates that either the military solution is proving far more difficult than Mr Maliki thought or there are behind-the-scenes efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution. |
| UK military spokesman in Basra Maj Tom Holloway said US warplanes had for the first time in the operation carried out bombing raids overnight in Basra, targeting "mortar teams" and "a concentration of militia troops". | UK military spokesman in Basra Maj Tom Holloway said US warplanes had for the first time in the operation carried out bombing raids overnight in Basra, targeting "mortar teams" and "a concentration of militia troops". |
| The Iraqi prime minister has vowed to continue the fight against the militias for as long as necessary. | The Iraqi prime minister has vowed to continue the fight against the militias for as long as necessary. |
| Mr Maliki has personally overseen the operation in Basra, which involves some 30,000 troops and police fighting the Mehdi Army, led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. | Mr Maliki has personally overseen the operation in Basra, which involves some 30,000 troops and police fighting the Mehdi Army, led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. |
| With the militia remaining in control of some densely populated areas, the PM has pulled out of this weekend's Arab League summit in Syria to deal with the crisis. | With the militia remaining in control of some densely populated areas, the PM has pulled out of this weekend's Arab League summit in Syria to deal with the crisis. |
| In Basra, a Shia member of the city council told the BBC the situation seemed to be closer to normal with less shooting and residents and traffic venturing onto the streets. | In Basra, a Shia member of the city council told the BBC the situation seemed to be closer to normal with less shooting and residents and traffic venturing onto the streets. |
| US President George W Bush has praised Mr Maliki's crackdown, saying "normalcy" was returning to Iraq. | US President George W Bush has praised Mr Maliki's crackdown, saying "normalcy" was returning to Iraq. |