(28 Mar 2008) HEADLINE: Friday Deadline for Violence to End in Basra
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CAPTION: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has issued a Friday deadline for violence to end in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. The Iraqi government will hold a special session on Friday to address the fighting. (March 28)
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[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
No Retreat ... That is the word from Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in the showdown for the southern city of Basra.
Al-Maliki has travelled there, where the clash between Iraqi forces and Shiite militamen continues to grow.
Al-Maliki has issued a Friday ultimatum to the militia ... Stop fighting or else face harsh consequences.
On Thursday, militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr called for a political solution to the crisis, urging an end to the shedding of Iraqi blood.
However, he fell short of ordering his Mahdi Army to halt attacks ... Which have also spread to Baghdad and its surrounding suburbs.
There have been several attacks on the Green Zone in recent days, killing two Americans.
A curfew is now in place and the U-S Embassy is telling all diplomats to stay under hard cover until further notice.
During a speech in Ohio Thursday, President Bush did not comment on the growing violence ... Instead pointing to the successes of the troop surge.
SOT: TRT:
Al-Maliki says he is acting against criminal gangs in Basra ... But Shiite militiamen say he is trying to deprive them from having a voice in the political process.
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