State of Emergency Declared in Basra

UPDATE: Interesting move by John Kerry.

Where is the do nothing Arab League?

Cue John Murtha.

Besides a curfew, the state of emergency broadens police powers in the city 340 miles southeast of Baghdad. Although curfews exist in other cities where violence is rampant, including the capital, Basra is the only one where a state of emergency is in effect. Al-Waeli said a security committee was set up that includes three members of the provincial council and the leaders of the police and army. A weapons buyback plan is also being considered for the city's heavily armed residents. “We will ask the prime minister if we can to buy all the weapons in the possession of tribes and other people in return for an amount of money to encourage them to hand them over, and not to use them against security forces,” Iraqi army Brig. Jalil Khalaf said. Tensions have been worsening in the Shiite-dominated area, where Britain has about 8,000 soldiers, and mostly Shiite militias have been attacking Sunni Arabs and each other. State of Emergency Takes Effect in Basra

Also see: Vying for power, militias roil Basra