Prime Minister Maliki said the crackdown on the Mahdi Army would stop if they hand over their weapons, turn over wanted members, list those involved in violence, and halt interference in the government’s affairs. Sadr called for his fighters to stop attacks while Iraqi and US troops killed 14 Mahdi fighters. Iraqi security forces stopped a Sadrist delegation from entering Basrah. Coalition forces killed five al Qaeda operatives and detained 39 suspects during raids in central Iraq.
