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Iraq PM halts battle with militia | Iraq PM halts battle with militia |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has ordered a stop to all operations against "people who carry weapons" in the country. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has ordered a stop to all operations against "people who carry weapons" in the country. |
This comes a day after he promised to continue to pursue criminals and outlaws in all provinces. | This comes a day after he promised to continue to pursue criminals and outlaws in all provinces. |
Last week there was intense fighting between the Mehdi Army militia and the Iraqi security forces in Basra. | Last week there was intense fighting between the Mehdi Army militia and the Iraqi security forces in Basra. |
Separately, police say a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people in an attack in a funeral in the province of Diyala. | Separately, police say a suicide bomber killed at least 15 people in an attack in a funeral in the province of Diyala. |
The attack, on the funeral of a Sunni policeman, happened in the town of Sadiya, 60km (37 miles) from Baquba. | The attack, on the funeral of a Sunni policeman, happened in the town of Sadiya, 60km (37 miles) from Baquba. |
Attacks on funerals are usually blamed on al-Qaeda in Iraq. | Attacks on funerals are usually blamed on al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
Unclear intentions | Unclear intentions |
The clashes between the army and Shia militia spread to various areas in Iraq, including Baghdad, and hundreds of people were reported killed in days of fighting. | The clashes between the army and Shia militia spread to various areas in Iraq, including Baghdad, and hundreds of people were reported killed in days of fighting. |
This eased on Sunday when Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr ordered his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down. | This eased on Sunday when Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr ordered his Mehdi Army fighters to stand down. |
The BBC's Crispin Thorold in Baghdad says Mr Maliki's intentions over the past 10 days have been far from clear. | |
From the beginning, the prime minister said that the Iraqi security forces operations in Basra were targeting "criminals". | From the beginning, the prime minister said that the Iraqi security forces operations in Basra were targeting "criminals". |
In practice that meant militiamen from the Mehdi Army. | In practice that meant militiamen from the Mehdi Army. |
When the Iraqi forces faced tougher resistance than expected, Mr Maliki vowed to continue the fighting to the end. | When the Iraqi forces faced tougher resistance than expected, Mr Maliki vowed to continue the fighting to the end. |
Instead elaborate negotiations involving, senior Iraqi politicians and the Iranian government, persuaded Moqtada Sadr to back down. | Instead elaborate negotiations involving, senior Iraqi politicians and the Iranian government, persuaded Moqtada Sadr to back down. |
His militia are off the streets, but still have their weapons. Mr Maliki appears to be saying that they will not be pursued, for now, our correspondent says. | His militia are off the streets, but still have their weapons. Mr Maliki appears to be saying that they will not be pursued, for now, our correspondent says. |
Violence continued in the southern city of Basra on Thursday. A US statement said Iraqi troops killed seven militants and detained 16 in clashes. | Violence continued in the southern city of Basra on Thursday. A US statement said Iraqi troops killed seven militants and detained 16 in clashes. |
One of those detained was a militia leader, the statement said, involved in the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi soldiers, oil smuggling and running foreign fighter networks. | One of those detained was a militia leader, the statement said, involved in the kidnapping and murder of Iraqi soldiers, oil smuggling and running foreign fighter networks. |
In a separate clash, US warplanes bombed insurgents engaging Iraqi forces in Basra, the statement said. | In a separate clash, US warplanes bombed insurgents engaging Iraqi forces in Basra, the statement said. |
Al-Qaeda 'weakened' | Al-Qaeda 'weakened' |
Separately, an American intelligence report on security in Iraq says the improvements seen since the surge in troops last year have been maintained. | Separately, an American intelligence report on security in Iraq says the improvements seen since the surge in troops last year have been maintained. |
The latest National Intelligence Estimate highlights how Sunni Muslim tribes have helped weaken al-Qaeda in Iraq. | The latest National Intelligence Estimate highlights how Sunni Muslim tribes have helped weaken al-Qaeda in Iraq. |
The new report was given to Congress a week before the most senior US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, gives evidence to a Senate committee. | The new report was given to Congress a week before the most senior US general in Iraq, David Petraeus, gives evidence to a Senate committee. |
The report does not mention the Iraqi government's operation against the Shia groups. | The report does not mention the Iraqi government's operation against the Shia groups. |