World-News

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/26/7892/



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Sadr
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Petraeus
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Gareth+Porter

Telegraph [UK]

03/25/08

Iraq was facing the prospect of nationwide revolt after followers of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr rose up in anger against a government-led strike on militia strongholds in Basra. Violence spread across southern Iraq and into Baghdad after 12 were reported killed in Basra fighting. Major Tom Holloway, a spokesman for British forces at Basra Airbase, said that the Iraqi army had mounted a cordon around two districts of the city and the police were raiding known militia positions. Five districts of the central Iraqi city of Kut fell to Sadr followers during a demonstration. A police spokesman said the authorities had asked for US military intervention...

http://tinyurl.com/2x6tnj


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp

--------

BASRA: SHIITE ELITES FIGHT FOR DOMINANCE

Pepe Escobar on fighting in Basra
http://therealnews.com/web/index.php?thisdataswitch=0&thisid=1218&thisview=item



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Shia+cleric
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Moqtada+al-Sadr
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Basra
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Pepe+Escobar

The San Francisco Chronicle's David R. Baker writes: "Chevron Corp. and other international oil companies are negotiating with the Iraq Ministry of Oil to begin tapping into some of the country's largest oil fields, according to published reports."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032508T.shtml



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Chevron
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Iraq+oil
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Big+Oil

Steven Lee Myers and Thom Shanker of The New York Times say: "Troop levels in Iraq would remain nearly the same through 2008 as they have been through most of the five years of war there, under plans presented to President Bush on Monday by the senior American commander and the top American diplomat in Iraq, senior administration and military officials said."

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/032508S.shtml



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Steven+Lee+Myers
http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Thom+Shanker

Congressional Democrats, including presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama, have insisted that any agreement with Iraq that obligates U.S. troops to defend the country would require congressional approval.

http://tinyurl.com/yol98w


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Afghanistan

There are now worrying signs that action against the militia in Basra and arrest raids in Baghdad are jeopardising the ceasefire.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7313062.stm


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Basra

Six people have been killed in a US air strike near the Iraqi town of Samarra, with some reports suggesting they were US-allied anti-al-Qaeda Sunni fighters.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7309292.stm


From Information Clearing House



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Samarra

http://www.agoracosmopolitan.com/home/Frontpage/2008/03/21/02286.html


Informant: Neo Mulder

http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0325-11.htm



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Iraqi+civilians

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/03/25/7878



http://freepage.twoday.net/search?q=Linda+McQuaig