Iraq Hell Turns Up Thermostat Another Degree

Shiite Militia in Iraq Sparks Clash
By MICHAEL KAMBER, NY Times

BAGHDAD — Serious fighting broke out Tuesday in Basra and Baghdad, Iraq’s largest cities, between restive members of Iraq’s biggest Shiite militia and Iraqi army forces backed by American troops.

The scale and intensity of the clashes kept many residents home in Baghdad. Barrages of mortars hit the fortified Green Zone area for the second time in three days. In Basra, Iraq’s most important oil exporting center, thousands of Iraqi government soldiers and police moved to drive out Shiite militia members that have taken over big swathes of that city.

The Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army, had been observing a cease-fire that began in August and has been partly credited, along with the influx of thousands of extra American troops, with improved security in the country. But Moktada al-Sadr, the radical Shiite cleric who is the leader of the Mahdi Army, on Monday called for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign in response to what his followers have characterized as unwarranted crackdowns on them.

The violence raised fears across Iraq that the cease-fire was in danger of collapsing, erasing the security gains of the past six months.

Witnesses in Basra said that throughout the day, American jets flew overhead, armored vehicles raced through the city, and machine gun and canon fire reverberated through the streets. Civilians took refuge in their homes. Iraqi television showed images of civilian gunmen with rocket propelled grenade launchers taking up positions and ambulances ferrying the wounded to hospitals.

In Baghdad, scattered clashes broke out across the city. In some areas, police and army checkpoints blocked the sparse traffic every 100 yards.

Said Ammar, a government employee, said that he was standing near a police checkpoint in Baghdad’s Hurrya neighborhood Tuesday morning when he was approached by Mahdi Army members. “They told me not to stand near checkpoints. They said, ‘We are waiting for the word from Moktada Sadr to attack the checkpoints—it may come at any moment.’”

Yassin Mohammed, 27, who lives just outside of Baghdad, said he tried to enter the city but was ordered to return home by members of the Mahdi Army.

“They told me ‘Haven’t you heard of the civil disobedience?’” he said. “I noticed that there were no cars on the main road, and markets, schools and the bank were all closed. The checkpoints are more now than a few days ago, and my neighborhood is in tension.”

Sadr City, the Baghdad district that is the center of the Mahdi Army’s power, was sealed off by a double-cordon of Iraqi and American troops. Gunfire could be heard inside the sprawling slum from the checkpoints on the outskirts.

Members of Mr. Sadr’s organization said that the cease-fire was still in effect, but were angry at the government’s offensive.

“We tried our best to open dialogue with the government and the security forces but they did not cooperate with us because they believe the dialogue language is over with the Mahdi Army,” said Hasan al-Rubaie, a member of parliament who is loyal to Mr. Sadr.

News services reported that at least 13 gunmen, three Iraqi policemen, and six civilians were killed in the latest clashes in Basra. Dozens more were injured and several military vehicles were reportedly destroyed in explosions. There was no clear information on casualties in Baghdad.

In an interview, Dr. Ali Sumasim, the head of the political committee of the Sadr Movement in Najaf, the holy Shiite city in southern Iraq, said the call for sit-ins and civil disobedience would continue until a number of requests were met. Dr. Sumasim said the requests included “the termination of violations, detentions and harassment” against members of Mr. Sadr’s organization and the release of detainees and prisoners.

As part of the protest, stores were shut down and taxi and bus drivers were ordered to stay home.

“Our aim is to stop all civil activities in order to force the occupation force and Iraqi government to meet our demands,” he said.

Anwer J. Ali and Iraqi employees of the New York Times contributed reporting from Basra and Baghdad.