“Meanwhile, Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani condemned the killing of Riyad al-Nuri....”
Uh, I’m lost. Either al-Talabani is in favor of a strong government and no private armies, or is in favor of private armies at the expense of government power. Can anyone imagine most countries tolerating private armies?
Fighting resumes despite Muqtada al-Sadr's calls for calm
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Associated Press - April 12, 2008 9:23 AM ET
BAGHDAD (AP) - The fighting has resumed between Shiite militants and U.S. and Iraqi forces around Baghdad's Shiite district of Sadr City despite a call for calm by anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (mook-TAH'-duh al SAH'-dur).
The U.S. military says at least 13 Shiite militants died in the clashes, which erupted last night before tapering off today, a day after the assassination of 1 of al-Sadr's top aides. Iraqi police say seven civilians were killed as a result of the fighting.
Al-Sadr has blamed the Americans and their Iraqi allies for the assassination, which happened in the Shiite holy city of Najaf (NAH'-jahf). Gunmen ambushed the aide as he was returning home from Friday prayers.
A curfew was declared in Najaf to prevent a violent backlash by al-Sadr supporters, but it has been lifted.
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My comment:
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I don't think the Government forces did the killing and ....on some Blogs there is speculation that it was meant as a message to Sadr.,...that he needs to keep fighting....