• Sadr fighters lay down their weapons
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 10:44 PM
    BAGHDAD, May 15 (UPI) -- Forces loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr laid down their weapons Thursday as reports emerged from Iraq of relative calm in the Baghdad district of Sadr City.
  • U.S. claims Iranian weapons are in Iraq
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 10:42 PM
    BAGHDAD, May 15 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the U.S. military in Baghdad said emerging evidence suggests Iran is backing the so-called special groups targeting coalition and Iraqi forces.
  • Sadrists' political future uncertain
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 10:40 PM
    BAGHDAD, May 15 (UPI) -- The Sadrist Movement emerged as an influential force in the post-Saddam era in Iraq, but its potency may be in decline, analysts say.
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  • Analysis: Indian agencies start blame game
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 8:36 PM
    By KUSHAL JEENA
    UPI Correspondent
    NEW DELHI, May 15 (UPI) -- India's intelligence and security agencies are indulging in a blame game over a recent foiled infiltration bid by militants on the Pakistani border, with one agency accusing the paramilitary forces guarding the border of lacking alertness.
  • Iraq press roundup
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 7:20 PM
    By HIBA DAWOOD
    UPI Correspondent
    The daily Al Mashriq newspaper had an editorial Thursday titled "Last lines for the chaotic months" that said although Iraq has been in a war for five years, the government in the last few weeks has been chaotically carrying out quick military operations and offensives in many cities and areas around the country.
  • Features: More graves found
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 2:31 PM
    By RICHARD TOMKINS
    ZAHAMM, Iraq, May 13 (UPI) -- The number of human remains unearthed in an al-Qaida killing field northeast of Baghdad in Diyala province is nearing 70 with the discovery of more graves by villagers who had volunteered to search an abandoned pomegranate orchard.
  • Analysis: USAF's cyber offense capability
    Published: May 15, 2008 at 2:23 PM
    By SHAUN WATERMAN
    UPI Homeland and National Security Editor
    WASHINGTON, May 15 (UPI) -- Procurement documents from the U.S. Air Force give a rare glimpse into the Pentagon's plans for developing an offensive cyberwar capacity that can infiltrate, steal data from and if necessary take down enemy information technology networks.
  • Iraq Press Roundup
    Published: May 14, 2008 at 3:49 PM
    By HIBA DAWOOD
    UPI Correspondent
    The Association of Muslim Scholars' Al Basaer newspaper said in its editorial Wednesday that President Bush has divided the people of Iraq into five groups according to the five political groups in Iraq.
  • Feature: Iraq's killing fields
    Published: May 14, 2008 at 2:13 PM
    By RICHARD TOMKINS
    ZAHAMM, Iraq, May 13 (UPI) -- Farmers digging in part of an abandoned pomegranate orchard in the Diyala provincial village of Zahamm have uncovered the graves of more than 50 people murdered by al-Qaida-Iraq during their two-year reign of terror in the area.
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Sadr 'essential ... in the new Iraq'


Published: Feb. 28, 2008 at 9:14 PM
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BAGHDAD, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- The United Nations praised the extension of the cease-fire by the Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr as a contributing factor to Iraqi reconstruction.

The security situation in Iraq opens the way for improvements in other sectors, such as those concerning the economy and displaced refugees.

The six-month extension of a unilateral cease-fire by Sadr's Mahdi Army will contribute to the security in Iraq, allowing for the millions of Iraqi refugees living abroad to begin to return home, the U.N.'s humanitarian news agency, IRIN, said Thursday.

Abdul-Hadi Nasser Joda with the University of Basra sees Sadr's move as a strategic one, positioning himself as a political figure contributing to the reduction in violence in Iraq.

Joda said Sadr also can appeal to the U.S. and Iraqi governments for political gain.

"With the remarkable security achievements in Baghdad and southern Iraq, (Sadr) wants to make himself a player that the USA and the Iraqi government must continue to deal with. ... He can always go back to fighting if he wants to play that card," Joda said.

Haqi Youssif Khalil at the University of Baghdad said the cease-fire will contribute to the security gains in Iraq, but also serve as a warning to other factions operating against Sadr's forces as his political influence gains momentum.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki praised the cease-fire, calling Sadr's political party an "essential cornerstone … in the new Iraq."

U.S. military officials said most of Baghdad's 479 districts are secure and civilian casualties are down 90 percent from June 2007 levels.

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