Iraq Notebook
Iraq works on amnesty

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Allawi said he met with a delegation from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army over the weekend to discuss dismantling the militia as a precondition for al-Sadr to join the political process. "He is looking for an amnesty. He is looking to be part of the political process," Allawi said on ABC's "This Week."

"Everybody should follow the bounds of the law, whether it's Moqtada Sadr or anybody else," Allawi said, adding that the interim government would "welcome" any Iraqi who is willing to respect law and order.

In Baghdad yesterday, al-Sadr vowed "to continue resisting oppression and occupation to our last drop of blood."

Blast hits pipeline south of Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Saboteurs yesterday blasted a crude-oil pipeline that runs from Iraq's northern oil fields to the south, police said, while the government announced that a breach in a southern pipeline reported Saturday came from pipeline failure, not sabotage.

Fire crews and police worked into the night to extinguish the blaze near Musayyib, 50 miles southwest of Baghdad. It was unclear whether the pipeline was used for export or how the damage would affect Iraq's oil output, most of which comes from Iraq's southern fields.

Iraqi troops able to thwart car bombing

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi troops thwarted a car bombing outside their regional headquarters in Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad, yesterday, killing an attacker before he could detonate his vehicle.

However, in killing the would-be bomber, the Iraqi National Guard's shots triggered the explosives in the car. Two bystanders were killed in the explosion, hospital officials said.

Iran prepares Saddam complaint
 
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran said yesterday that it has prepared a criminal complaint against former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for his 1980 invasion of Iran and for using chemical weapons against Iranians during the neighboring nations' eight-year war.

Tehran will file the documents with the Iraqi court where Saddam is standing trial, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said.

Iraq took legal custody of Saddam Wednesday. He remains in a U.S.-run prison in Iraq, and his trial is not expected to start for a least a year.

Militants in Fallujah prevent Saddam rally

FALLUJAH, Iraq — Islamic militants yesterday prevented a group of Saddam Hussein loyalists from holding a march to show solidarity for the ousted dictator.

About 20 cars filled with armed, masked guerrillas forced about 100 people gathered for the rally to disperse.

"God gave victory to Fallujah, because it's a Muslim (city); because it's applying Islamic law," one of the militants said, according to witnesses. "We don't want our victory to go to Saddam."

Hard-line Islamic insurgents led the resistance against U.S.-led coalition forces in the city.