PlusIraqi Crackdown on Shiite Militia in Third DayIraqi Crackdown on Shiite Militia in Third DayThe Associated PressThe Iraqi military crackdown on Shiite militia in Amarah, south of Baghdad, entered its third day on Saturday with no sign of the clashes which occurred in Basra and Baghdad's Sadr City earlier this year. (June 21)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] [Notes:Dateline: Amarah, Iraq]It's being called Operation Promise of Peace.And it's already raising tensions in this oil-producing city south of Baghdad.It's here where soldiers searched offices of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for a third straight day... The raids were sparked when militants failed to meet a deadline to surrender their weapons... or face arrest. The area is thought to be the hub of several networks smuggling weapons from Iran to Shiite extremists in Iraq. [Notes:Vid of what the Iraqi army claimed were Iranian mortars found in a nearby field.] And the government said security forces had already found large weapons caches and munitions. But followers of al-Sadr are accusing the government of **only** targeting **their** political movement. That's after soldiers arrested the Sadrist mayor of the townEven so ... Iraqi officials say so far things are peaceful .... And aren't reporting any major clashes.It's the fourth operation launched by the government against Shiite and Sunni extremists in recent months. And the first time since 2003 that the Iraqi forces have reached this remote area. ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****)

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