The fighting in Sadr City/Basra is probably not being covered by regular reporters it’s just too dangerous. My theory is that many of the major News outlets are using local ‘stringers’ for the most dangerous News gathering activities. This war has gone on long enough that most of those ‘stringers’ have been compromised. They’re working for the other side. Not saying that this is the case with the AP, but it wouldn’t surprise me either.