al-Maliki Vows To Disband All Militias

The Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki has vowed to disband all militias operating in Iraq, including the Mahdi army which is lead by al-Sadr. Voice of America

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is vowing to disarm militias by force and disband the Shi'ite Mahdi Army, Sunni insurgent groups and al-Qaida in Iraq.

Mr. Maliki made the pledge at a news conference Wednesday in Baghdad. His comments follow days of heavy fighting that pits U.S. and Iraqi forces against Shi'ite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Baghdad's Sadr City. The military says at least 66 fighters have been killed there since Sunday.

Mr. Maliki also ordered the crackdown last month on Sadr's Mahdi Army in the southern city of Basra.