Iraq - Mahdi army ceasefire 'collapsing'

A breakdown in a declared ceasefire by the Mahdi army is threatening a fragile peace that has existed between Shi’ite militants and the Iraqi government. On Tuesday fighting in Basra left 12 dead and at least 32 wounded as gunmen loyal to the Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr clashed with Iraqi security forces.
By Thursday more than 100 had died in clashes in the southern Iraqi city. But the violence wasn’t confined to the south. Clashes between militia and security forces were also seen in Hill, Kut and Baghdad. The unrest looks likely to continue with members of the Mahdi army ignoring calls from the Iraqi Prime Minister to lay down their arms. On Wednesday, Nouri al Maliki said the gunmen faced “severe consequences” if they failed to stand down. But the attacks have increased with at least one pipeline targeted by a bomb blast and the heavily fortified Green Zone hit by several mortar bombs.

Some commentators say that the clashes are being orchestrated by rogue elements of the Mahdi army. Some are frustrated by continued attacks on the Shia by terrorists and heavy handed treatment by security forces. Author Patrick Cockburn told CNN the situation is extremely volatile and could threaten the downturn of violence that has been seen since the US led surge earlier this year. CNN reporter Kyra Phillips speaking from Baghdad said the clashes are mainly confined to the Shia neighbourhoods and that so far US forces are leaving the security situation in the hands of the Iraqi army. Meanwhile, the Iraqi PM is holding talks with Moqtada al Sadr in the hope of brokering the peace and re-establishing the long standing ceasefire [BBC / CNN / Al Jazeera].

The clashes started after another grim milestone in Iraq as the US death toll passed 4,000 [BBC]. Since then a further three American servicemen have died. And another British soldier died in clashes in the capital Baghdad bringing the UK death toll to 176. Other members of the coalition have lost 133.