Around the World: Iraq

Sadr calls for ceasefire

Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on his armed followers yesterday to leave the streets and stop battling government forces in Basra and other southern towns.

Iraqi government troops have been battling fighters loyal to Sadr in Basra for six days. The fighting has spread to other towns in southern Iraq and neighborhoods of Baghdad.

In his statement Sadr denied that his followers possessed heavy weapons. He said the government should stop large-scale arrests of his followers and implement an amnesty to free prisoners held in detention.

(China Daily 03/31/2008 page6)