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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
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| Iraq extends militiamen deadline | Iraq extends militiamen deadline |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Iraq's government has extended by 10 days a deadline for Shia militiamen fighting troops in the southern city of Basra to hand over their weapons. | Iraq's government has extended by 10 days a deadline for Shia militiamen fighting troops in the southern city of Basra to hand over their weapons. |
| More than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on militias began in Basra on Tuesday. | More than 130 people have been killed and 350 injured since a clampdown on militias began in Basra on Tuesday. |
| US-led forces joined the battle for the first time overnight, bombing Shia positions, the UK military said. | US-led forces joined the battle for the first time overnight, bombing Shia positions, the UK military said. |
| Parliament called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis, which has also brought a three-day curfew in Baghdad. | Parliament called an emergency meeting to discuss the crisis, which has also brought a three-day curfew in Baghdad. |
| But just 54 MPs out of 275 managed to get inside the fortified Green Zone to attend the session, because it was under fresh bombardment from mortars and rockets. | But just 54 MPs out of 275 managed to get inside the fortified Green Zone to attend the session, because it was under fresh bombardment from mortars and rockets. |
| 'Window of opportunity' | 'Window of opportunity' |
| On Friday one of the missiles hit Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi's offices, killing at least one guard. | On Friday one of the missiles hit Iraqi Vice-President Tareq Hashemi's offices, killing at least one guard. |
| A statement from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office read: "All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from 28 March to 8 April." | A statement from Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's office read: "All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from 28 March to 8 April." |
| Moqtada Sadr's supporters at a Friday prayer service in Baghdad Amateur footage | Moqtada Sadr's supporters at a Friday prayer service in Baghdad Amateur footage |
| No reason was given for the deadline extension. | No reason was given for the deadline extension. |
| UK military spokesman in Basra Maj Tom Holloway said: "A number of local sheikhs have handed in militia members and ammunition and explosives, and the prime minister is hoping to extend the window of opportunity to others." | UK military spokesman in Basra Maj Tom Holloway said: "A number of local sheikhs have handed in militia members and ammunition and explosives, and the prime minister is hoping to extend the window of opportunity to others." |
| BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the extension indicates that either the military solution is proving far more difficult than Mr Maliki thought or there are behind-the-scenes efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution. | BBC Arab affairs analyst Magdi Abdelhadi says the extension indicates that either the military solution is proving far more difficult than Mr Maliki thought or there are behind-the-scenes efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution. |
| Mr Maliki had earlier vowed he would continue the fight against the militias for as long as necessary. | Mr Maliki had earlier vowed he would continue the fight against the militias for as long as necessary. |
| He has pulled out of this weekend's Arab League summit in Syria to deal with the crisis. | He has pulled out of this weekend's Arab League summit in Syria to deal with the crisis. |
| BASRA KEY FACTS Third largest city, population 2.6 million approxLocated on the Shatt al-Arab waterway leading to the GulfRegion around city has substantial oil resources4,000 UK troops based at international airport Battles threaten fragile IraqClashes in picturesInvasion right, says Bush | BASRA KEY FACTS Third largest city, population 2.6 million approxLocated on the Shatt al-Arab waterway leading to the GulfRegion around city has substantial oil resources4,000 UK troops based at international airport Battles threaten fragile IraqClashes in picturesInvasion right, says Bush |
| The prime minister has personally overseen the major operation in Basra. | The prime minister has personally overseen the major operation in Basra. |
| It involves some 30,000 troops and police fighting the Mehdi Army, led by radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. | |
| The militia's fighters remain in control of some densely populated areas. | The militia's fighters remain in control of some densely populated areas. |
| Maj Holloway said US warplanes had for the first time in the operation carried out bombing raids overnight in Basra, targeting "mortar teams" and "a concentration of militia troops". | Maj Holloway said US warplanes had for the first time in the operation carried out bombing raids overnight in Basra, targeting "mortar teams" and "a concentration of militia troops". |
| Aides to Mr Sadr on Friday told the BBC no talks with the government were yet in prospect a day after the cleric called for a political solution to the crisis. | Aides to Mr Sadr on Friday told the BBC no talks with the government were yet in prospect a day after the cleric called for a political solution to the crisis. |
| In Basra, a Shia member of the city council told the BBC the situation seemed to be closer to normal. | In Basra, a Shia member of the city council told the BBC the situation seemed to be closer to normal. |
| "Today since early morning it's quiet. No shooting. And the people in Basra are going out of their houses for shopping. The buses have started working. And the cars are also working on the streets," the councillor said. | "Today since early morning it's quiet. No shooting. And the people in Basra are going out of their houses for shopping. The buses have started working. And the cars are also working on the streets," the councillor said. |
| Deserted | Deserted |
| US President George W Bush has praised Mr Maliki's decision to order the crackdown, saying "normalcy" was returning to Iraq. | US President George W Bush has praised Mr Maliki's decision to order the crackdown, saying "normalcy" was returning to Iraq. |
| Baghdad's curfew was imposed from Thursday night until 0500 on Sunday to "protect civilians", officials said. | Baghdad's curfew was imposed from Thursday night until 0500 on Sunday to "protect civilians", officials said. |
| No unauthorised vehicles or pedestrians are allowed onto the streets. | No unauthorised vehicles or pedestrians are allowed onto the streets. |
| On Friday, most of the capital's main roads were reported to be deserted. | On Friday, most of the capital's main roads were reported to be deserted. |