NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi ****'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi ****'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on
his followers on Sunday to stop battling government forces after a
week of fighting in southern Iraq and Baghdad threatened to spiral out
of control.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080330/wl_nm/iraq_dc

"Because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood
being shed ... we call for an end to armed appearances in Basra and
all other provinces," Sadr said in a statement given to journalists by
his aides in the holy ****'ite city of Najaf.

"Anyone carrying a weapon and targeting government institutions will
not be one of us."

Sadr's statement appeared aimed at averting a full-scale confrontation
between his followers and Iraqi and U.S. forces that would plunge
southern, mainly ****'ite Iraq into chaos.

It was not clear what effect Sadr's call would have on the violence,
but there appeared to be a lull in fighting in Basra and the southern
city of Nassiriya, Reuters re****ters said.

On Mar 27, 6:02=A0pm, "Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names"
<PopUlist...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> George W. "Rat-****er" Bush has just said the current outbreak of
> civil war in Iraq is a "very positive moment."
>
> He's drinking and snorting coke again.