SADR WANTS TRUCE WITH MALIKI

NYTIMES/AP:

Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr is offering to pull his fighters off the streets of Basra and other cities if the government halts raids against his followers and releases prisoners held without charge.

The offer is contained in a nine-point statement issued by his headquarters in Najaf.

Al-Sadr is demanding that the government issue a general amnesty and release all detainees. The statement said he also ''disavows'' anyone who carries weapons and targets government institutions, charities and political party offices.

There was no immediate comment from the government.

I'LL COMMENT INSTEAD:

• THIS PROVES SADR IS LOSING. AND HIS BACKERS IN IRAN.
• WE SHOULDN'T BACK OFF YET.
• MALIKI JUST NEEDS TO KEEP THE PRESSURE UP UNTIL SADR'S TERMS ARE MORE IN KEEPING WITH WHAT WE MIGHT ALLOW.