Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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April 4, 2008

Iraqi Prime Minister Stops Raids Against Shi'ite Militants
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1BC5530:A6F02AD83191E160280053F9778CF237A13B8D4F2090AB2B& Nouri al-Maliki
says aim of measure is to allow time for those wanting so surrender
weapons





Nouri al-Maliki (file photo)

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has ordered his forces to stop
raids against suspected Shi'ite militants.

Friday's statement also offered an amnesty to those who participated
in last week's Basra violence, if they lay down their weapons. Mr.
Maliki did not say how long his offer would stand.

A day earlier, Mr. Maliki said he intended to launch more crackdowns -
like the recent one in Basra - against extremist gunmen in Baghdad and
elsewhere.

The southern city of Basra was the scene of recent deadly clashes
between Iraqi security forces and Shi'ite militias loyal to radical
cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

During the fighting, more than one thousand Iraqi soldiers and police
reportedly refused to fight, or abandoned their posts, according to
Iraqi military and police sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

Seperately Friday, Iraqi police said a suicide bomber has killed at
least 15 people at a funeral north of Baghdad.

Police said the attacker detonated his explosives vest in a crowd of
mourners at the funeral in Diyala province.

Meanwhile, a top United Nations official has appealed for significant
funds to improve the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

U.N. Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency
Relief John Holmes says the funds will cover food, health, shelter,
water sanitation and education. Holmes warns of a "very grave"
humanitarian problem in Iraq without the added funds.



Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP .






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