IRAQ: Iraqi security forces battle radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army in Basra

Record ID: 699552

  • Title: IRAQ: Iraqi security forces battle radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army in Basra
  • Date: 26th March 2008
  • Summary: (BN05) BASRA, IRAQ (MARCH 26, 2008) (REUTERS) MEN ON MOTORCYCLE DRIVING DOWN EMPTY STREET/ SMOKE RISING IN THE DISTANCE CAR MAN ON BIKE IN EMPTY STREET VARIOUS OF CARS ON STREET AMBULANCE DRIVING PAST EMPTY STREETS
  • Embargoed: 10th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: War / Fighting
  • Reuters ID: LVA1KUQBA56K1ZQE74A7CDZYWY36
  • Story Text: Residents of the southern Iraqi city of Basra stayed indoors on Wednesday (March 26) after Iraqi security forces fought with supporters of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
    Streets were deserted and businesses closed after a day of heavy fighting which police and health workers said at least 12 people were killed.
    In a statement read out by a senior aide on Tuesday, Sadr called on Iraqis to stage sit-ins all over Iraq and said he would declare a "civil revolt" if attacks by U.S. and Iraqi security forces continued. He also threatened a "third step", but said it was too early to announce what it would be.
    Columns of black smoke rose above Basra and explosions and machine-gun fire could be heard.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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