Al-Sadr Calls on Iraqi PM to Leave Basra

Al-Sharqiyah television in Arabic carries within between 0700 gmt and 1200 on 26 March the following reports on latest political developments in Iraq:

Within its 0700 gmt newscast, Al-Sharqiyah reports the following:

– "Sources in the city of Basra in southern Iraq said that an Iraqi government column was completely destroyed near the Al-Batha area while leaving Karbala Governorate to the city of Basra in southern Iraq. The sources said that the column, which was on its way to Basra to support the security forces there, was targeted by an explosion that completely destroyed all the column’s vehicles."

– "Spokesmen accompanying Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki chose to remain silent following conflicting reports that the government forces suffered setbacks. Reports at dawn today said that the government forces are gradually losing control over Basra areas and that the prime minister changed the place he used previously to run the operations taking place in the city. The spokesman for the security operation remained silent and out of sight and refused to talk to journalists. Security sources said that Karbala emergency regiments were instructed to use martial laws against those arrested by the emergency regiments, which operate under the supervision of two officers accused in the past by the Sadrists of committing violations against the families of Al-Sadr Trend members in Karbala. Meanwhile, a source close to Basra Operations Command, who warned against mentioning his name, said that scores of members of the 14th Division, led by Staff Major General Muhammad Jawad Huwaydi, fled the battlefield. Sources said that Al-Mahdi Army took over Abu Al- Khasib District. Other sources said that Al-Mahdi Army took over most of Basra areas, adding that other parties that are in disagreement with the Iraqi Islamic Supreme Council and the Al- Da’wah Party joined the Sadrist forces."

Within its 0800 gmt newscast, Al-Sharqiyah reports the following:

– "The Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi Government headquarters and the US and British embassies, came under renewed mortar attack this morning. Sources from the fortified Green Zone said that more than three mortar shells fell on various areas in the Green Zone, adding that the shelling caused no casualties. Meanwhile, security sources said that a mortar shell fell on a building in the Al-Salihiyah residential compound, which is located near the Green Zone, killing a person and wounding four others, all are members of the Iraqi Army who were receiving their salaries from a bank in the area. In a statement today, the US Army said that the source of all mortars that fell on the Green Zone was Al-Sadr City in eastern Baghdad."

– " Medical sources in Baghdad said that at least four people were killed and more than 24 others were wounded during clashes between US-Iraqi forces and Al-Mahdi Army members in Al-Sadr City in eastern Baghdad. A medical official said that Imam Ali Hospital in Al-Sadr City received the bodies of four civilians and 24 wounded people as a result of the clashes taken place between the two sides since Tuesday night."

– "Clashes renewed between members of Al-Mahdi Army, affiliated with Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and the Iraqi security forces in five areas in northern Basra this morning. Security sources said that the clashes took place in the (Al-Quzayzah,) Al-Hayaniyah, Al- Qarmah, and (Khamsah Mil,) and Al-Ma’qal areas. The sources asserted that Al-Mahdi Army spread out in these areas since this morning, taking over almost all of them. Meanwhile, a medical source, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters today that 40 people were killed and 200 others were wounded in clashes between Iraqi security forces and Al-Mahdi Army members in the city of Basra. He added that the casualties are civilians, armed men, and members of the security forces."

– "Baha al-A’raji, a leader in the Al-Sadr Trend, denied what sources close to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said about setting a date for a meeting between Al-Maliki and a delegation of Al-Sadr Trend to discuss the military developments in Basra and other Iraqi cities where violent clashes are taking place between Al- Mahdi Army members and government forces. Al-A’raji told Al- Sharqiyah that Al-Mahdi Army is not responsible for the clashes with the government forces, adding that the government itself provoked Al- Mahdi Army through carrying out a large-scale arrest campaign, which he described as fierce, against Al-Sadr Trend leaders. He added: "The government, instead of preventing the security services from politically liquidating the leaders of the political blocs that are active in the Iraqi political arena, resorted to incitement to implement agendas, pass decisions, make political gains, and take what he described as illegal measures against a component, whose influence and popularity in Iraq cannot be ignored."

– "Security sources said that forces calling themselves Scorpion Forces, backed by US aircraft, arrested scores of Al-Sadr Trend followers in southern Al-Hillah in the centre of Babil Governorate, south of Baghdad. A parliament member from Al-Sadr Trend said that the raid operation caused the killing or wounding of a number of people. A security source said that most of the arrested do not live in Babil Governorate, adding that US helicopters are backing the operations taking place in the city. He added that a unit of Scorpion Forces entered Imam Ali Mosque in the Al-Shawi area in the centre of Al-Hillah following clashes with the mosque’s guards, who were arrested."

Within its 1200 gmt newscast, Al-Sharqiyah reports the following:

– "Columns of smoke were seen once again billowing from the Green Zone as a result of a shelling, which was described as the most precise of its kind so far, this evening. Buildings close to the Iraqi Council of Ministers came under mortar and rocket attack and, as a result, the warning sirens in the Green Zone were sounded.

The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has not thus far issued a statement on possible losses or confirming the statements made by high-level sources in the Green Zone."

– "The Green Zone, which houses the Iraqi Government headquarters and the US and British embassies, came under renewed mortar attack. Security sources said that one mortar shell fell on the conference palace in the Green Zone and another on the Iranian Embassy. A spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Baghdad said that three Americans were wounded in the shelling of the Green Zone. In a statement today, the US Army said that the source of all mortars that fell on the Green Zone was Al-Sadr City in eastern Baghdad."

– "Various neighbourhoods in Baghdad came under mortar attacks that caused the martyrdom or wounding of large number of people. Security sources said that a number of mortar shells fell on various areas in the Al-Karradah neighbourhood in the centre of Baghdad, causing the martyrdom of three people and the wounding of six others. The sources added that four mortar shells fell on the Al- Risalah neighbourhood in southwestern Baghdad, causing the martyrdom of four people and the wounding of 12 others. Al-Kazimiyah, Al- Jami’ah neighbourhood, Palestine Street, and other areas in Baghdad came under sporadic mortar attacks, which resulted in the death of a number of civilians. Meanwhile, sources said that eleven people were wounded when armed men opened fire on shops in Al-Sa’dun and Al- Kifah streets, without giving further details."

Within its 1300 gmt newscast, Al-Sharqiyah reports the following:

– "An Al-Sadr Trend official said that Muqtada al-Sadr, head of Al-Sadr Office [as heard], today called on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to leave Basra. Lu’y Sumaysim, official in charge of the political committee in Al-Sadr Trend, said that Al-Sadr called on Al- Maliki to leave Basra and to send a committee to resolve the crisis. He asserted that Al-Sadr Trend political committee is currently holding a meeting in Al-Najaf to discuss the situations in Basra and other cities and means of putting an end to the crisis."

Originally published by Al-Sharqiyah TV, Dubai, in Arabic 0700-1200 26 Mar 08.

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