Iraq says deadline for Shiite fighters 'successful'

AFP ^ | June 18, 2008 | AFP

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

AMARA, Iraq (AFP) — Dozens of Shiite militiamen surrendered to Iraqi forces on Wednesday hours before a deadline set by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for them to lay down their arms ahead of a new military crackdown.

Officials said the four-day deadline given to the fighters in the southern oil rich province of Maysan was successful although some militants had escaped ahead of the crackdown set to begin at midnight (2100 GMT).

"The deadline has been very successful. We have received many weapons, especially today," Defence Minister Abdel Qader Jassem Mohammed told AFP.

Mohammed said some militiamen had ran away before the start of the operation but that "many" others were still in Amara, the capital of Maysan province.

Brigadier General Saad al-Harbiyah, police chief of Amara, said 60 militiamen had surrendered ahead of the offensive and that hundreds of landmines were also discovered on Wednesday.

The latest crackdown targets Maysan province and in particular Amara which US commanders say has become a major centre for arms smuggling into Iraq from overwhelmingly Shiite Iran just over the border.

Maysan police spokesman Colonel Mehdi al-Asadi said the crackdown, called Basha'ar al-Salam (Promise of Peace), was to kick off at midnight.

"Iraqi forces have finished all the preparations," he said.

The defence minister said there would be "no curfew but in some areas cars would not be allowed."

He said the security forces had been told not to fire unless they came under fire.

An AFP correspondent touring Amara said the city was calm and local residents were largely expecting a peaceful operation.

"Sons of Maysan welcome Basha'ar al-Salam" was scribbled on a wall of a house. Another said: "Thousands of warm regards to the hero of the operation, Nuri al-Maliki."

On Wednesday there was a strong presence of security personnel in the city, mostly Iraqi police.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

H/T to Strata Sphere Blog:

Another Smashing Success In Iraq

***************************EXCERPT (INTRO**********************

Published by AJStrata at 12:09 pm under All General Discussions, Iraq, Sadr/Mahdi Army

Prime Minister Maliki has executed another smashing success in Iraq has Iraqi forces have taken control of the Sadrist enclave of Amarah, the capitol city of Maysan Province.  The initial phase was a window for militants (mostly Mahdi Militia) to surrender there arms and join society.  Apparently that was very successful:

************************snip****************************

The liberal SurrenderMedia will have a tough time twisting this fourth, successful major action across Iraq in so many months as a big defeat in the quagmire of Iraq.  All four of these efforts (Basra, Sadr City, Mosul and now Amarah) were Iraqi led efforts with US and coalition forces in back up roles.  It is a clear sign we have achieved victory in Iraq, which will be marked with an exclamation point with the new round of elections this fall and next spring.  The deniers can keep their blinders on - but it only makes them look ever more foolish, ever more incredible.

[stefanbatory]

sounds like a real quagmire.../sarc

[tobyhill]

It’s kind of nice not using AP articles. I can actually read what’s really going on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Iran on Its Heels: In Tehran's Setbacks, an Opportunity in Iraq

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

This article is hosted on Google and we now need to Excerpt from that site...but that’s OK.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Related thread:

Iraq gives al-Mahdi militia deadline to surrender its weapons

[Marine_Uncle]

It will be interesting to see how many of these people will be willing to pitch in and clean up their neighborhoods, fix the rubble and support their political parties of choice.
Clean water, full time electricity, and good medical and educational services could be offered to all Iraqi in due time if they lay down their arms and join in the new Iraqi model.