Sadr calls for freeze in fighting; US, Iraqi forces kill 14 Mahdi fighters in Baghdad

Long War Journal ^ | April 25, 2008 7:58 AM | Bill Roggio

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Less than one week after threatening to conduct an uprising against the Iraqi government and US forces, Muqtada al Sadr, the leader of the Mahdi Army, has called for his fighters to maintain the self-imposed cease-fire. The US and Iraqi military continue to strike at Sadr’s Mahdi Army in Baghdad. Ten “criminals” were killed in strikes in Sadr City, making 82 Mahdi fighters killed in the six days since Sadr threatened renewed violence.

In a statement read during the Friday prayers at the Al Hikma mosque in Sadr City, Sadr called for his militia to halt the fighting. “You have been patiently committed to the freeze decision and magnificently obeyed your leader,” Sadr statement read, according to Voices of Iraq. “I hope you retain your patience and faith.”

Sadr also said he did not threaten the Iraqi government with “open war” last weekend, but was directing his threat against Coalition forces. “The open war we threaten is meant against the occupiers,” Sadr said. “There is no war between us and our Iraqi brothers regardless of their sect or ethnicity.”

But Sadr then seemingly contradicted himself when he demanded the government “rein in the militias infiltrated” into the security forces. “I give the Iraqi government the last warning that we would wage an open war until liberation if it failed to rein in the militias infiltrated into it,” Sadr said.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From the MNF Press Release....

An Iraqi Army patrol, accompanied by U.S. Special Forces advisors, defeated elements of an armed criminal group that launched an unprovoked attack on Iraqi and U.S. forces conducting a patrol in Hussaniyah, a city north of Baghdad, April 22.

[geo40xyz]

Help this terriorts met his virgins early:-()

[Marine_Uncle]

Surely at this point Maliki realizes his forces are sufficient with US/British Air Power support and if neccessary, US Special OPS units to bring down the Mahdi militia at it's various key based areas, south, east, and north of the capital.
I am sure Maliki has up to now been simply testing the relative strength of these forces, and sees he really can go hard against this militia in the near future. We do have to remember that ten or twenty thousand militia members could stay in the battle regardless of the outcome.
If the militia choose to fight an all out war, then it obviously would become quite bloody.
But they would lose in the end run.