January 31, 2008

BAGHDAD, Jan. 31 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced major reconciliation measures and warned of operations in Mosul targeting al-Qaida, a report said.

Maliki said in an interview with the Iraqi television network al-Sumaria Thursday he sent proposals to Moqtada Sadr's Sadrist Movement to discuss their return to the central government amid broader reconciliation measures.

The Sadrist Movement withdrew from the Iraqi government in April 2007 citing the government's refusal to set a timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq.

Maliki also said he planned to launch a general conference on reconciliation in March.

Meanwhile, the government plans to launch military operations targeting al-Qaida strongholds in Mosul following an increase in militant activity that killed several people, including a local police chief, Maliki said.

Maliki also praised the resilience of local residents in standing up to the terrorist threat and said he plans to go to Mosul personally to monitor the progress of the operations.

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