Shiite militants also clashed with government forces for a fourth day in Iraq’s oil-rich south and sporadic fighting broke out in Baghdad, despite a weekend curfew in the capital.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has promised “no retreat” in the fight against militias in Basra despite growing anger among followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army.

The crackdown has intensified Sadrist anger over recent raids and detentions. They say US and Iraqi forces have taken advantage of their seven-month-old cease-fire to target the movement.

Al-Sadr on Thursday called for a political solution to the burgeoning crisis and an end to the “shedding of Iraqi blood.” But the statement, released by a close aide, stopped short of ordering his Mahdi Army militia to halt attacks.

The situation in Basra remained tense after the Iraqis asked for airstrikes on at least two locations, a local British official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release the information.
Green Zone hit again

The office of Iraq’s parliamentary speaker was hit in a mortar or rocket strike on Baghdad’s Green Zone on Friday, an official spokesman said.

Speaker Mahmoud Mashhadani was not in his office and nor were any of his staff as it was the Muslim Friday holiday.

But a security guard was killed, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Moreover, Pri-me Minister Nuri al-Maliki offered Shiite militants a “cash for weapons” deal in an attempt to end the violent clashes across Iraq.

The offer extended an earlier deadline of midnight on Sunday for fighters to lay down their weapons.
“We confirm the objectives of the operation in Basra which is to chase illegal elements and to put all the weapons under the control of law,” Maliki said. He said he will flush out the militants at all costs.