Iraq PM gives Shiite militia 72 hour deadline to lay down arms
BASRA, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday gave Shiite militants fighting security forces in the city of Basra a 72 hour deadline to surrender their arms, a government statement said.
"We are not going to chase those who hand over their weapons within 72 hours. If they do not surrender their arms, the law will follow its course," a statement from the Basra Operational Command said, quoting Maliki.
