By SPA
Washington : The White House on Wednesday said they “applaud the leadership” of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as he warned militias currently fighting in Iraq’s southern Basra region to leave.
After the second day of attacks in the otherwise secure and stable southern oil port of Basra, Maliki on Wednesday gave gunmen three days to surrender their weapons and renounce the violence.
At least 55 people have been killed and 300 wounded in Basra and Baghdad after the fighting spread to the capital’s main Shiite district of Sadr City, police and hospital officials said.
Though the loss of life is distressing, White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto said that Maliki’s quick action “shows the increase in the security and stability of the country.”
Fratto said that Maliki and his forces that went into Basra were “taking the initiative that was afforded to it by the surge [of U.S. soldiers in the country last year].”