The Hindu : International : Al-Sadr vows to fight on

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Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

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International

Al-Sadr vows to fight on

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, JULY 5. The radical Shia cleric, Moqtada Al-Sadr, who spearheaded an uprising against the U.S.-led occupation forces in April, has again raised the banner of revolt saying his group would fight alien rule till the end.

Mr. Al Sadr said, in reference to the American-backed interim Government, that there would be no truce with those who allied with the U.S.-led forces. The interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, had earlier said he was negotiating an amnesty with Mr. Al Sadr. Mr. Allawi said he had met a delegation from Mr. Al Sadr's Mehdi Army over the weekend. The two sides had discussed dismantling the militia as the first step for Mr. Al Sadr to join the political mainstream.

Within hours of Mr. Al Sadr's statement, the interim Government postponed unveiling a new security law that intends to quash the resistance. Officials have hinted that the proposed law would impose tough security measures, including death penalty.

Guerilla fighters would be offered amnesty, but not the former ruling Ba'ath party members with "blood on their hands," criminals and foreign fighters. The death penalty could apply to the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and 11 of his associates who appeared before an Iraqi court last Thursday.

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