Fighting between U.S. forces and the Mehdi Army militia continued Saturday, two days after radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr pledged to withdraw most of his militia from the Najaf region if U.S. forces did the same. After insurgents attacked American forces Friday in Najaf and Kufa, coalition military spokesman Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said the attacks were "small incidents" and "don't seem to be endemic." "We can't really say if these are characteristic of a larger group splitting away from Sadr or if it is just some of the groups that haven't gotten the word," Kimmitt said. "It could take a few days before the true cease-fire that he offered holds. We will have to wait and see and respond as and when necessary."
"We have seen Muqtada al-Sadr take a positive step," coalition spokesman Dan Senor said. "We think it is a first step, but it is not a solution to the broader problems. Today we continue to be cautiously optimistic about the direction this situation is headed."
| Why, it's almost as if Sadr won't keep his word. Tusk, tusk. |
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