NPR 2008-04-14

Iraq’s cabinet has taken action to try to isolate 1 radical 2 Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The cabinet gave preliminary approval today to a measure barring political parties that have militias 3, such as his, from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections. Lawmakers will consider the measure this week. The Iraqi government has also dismissed more than 1300 soldiers and police officers who deserted 5 or did not perform well during the recent fighting against Shiite militia 4 in Basra. NPR’s JJ Sutherland reports from Baghdad.

 in the Basra operations, almost a thousand police and soldiers refused to fight. Some even joined the other side. About 900 men are being fired. The stronghold of the Mahdi Army is the massive Shiite slum of Sadr City in Baghdad. There, more than 300 people are being dismissed from the Iraqi forces for the same reasons. The efforts against the Sadrists are seen by some Iraqis as a fight between two militias, the Mahdi Army and the militia of one of the ruling parties. Only one side happens to be wearing uniforms. JJ Sutherland, NPR News, Baghdad.

 The mothers of some of the hundreds of children removed from a polygamist compound in Texas have reportedly written to Texas Governor Rick Perry, asking for help in regaining 6 custody 7 of their daughters and sons. A copy of the letter was obtained by the Associated Press. Authorities are analyzing 8 information from cell phones and other electronic devices seized from the compound. From member station KUT, Matt Largey reports.

 A judge ordered all phones and electronic devices taken away from the hundreds of women and children removed from a ranch 9 run by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The order was requested by court-appointed lawyers for 18 of the more than 400 girls now under state protection. Patrick Crimmins is a spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. “The order is designed to prevent improper 10 communication, tampering 11 with witnesses and to ensure no outside interference in the attorney-client relationship.” Authorities removed the women and children from the West Texas compound last weekend. They were responding to a complaint from a 16-year-old girl who said she was being physically 12 and sexually abused by her 50-year-old husband. For NPR News, I’m Matt Largey, in Austin, Texas.

 The president of the World Bank Robert Zoellick is calling on wealthy countries to respond to a UN appeal and address the sharp rise in food prices which is affecting developing nations around the world. “The World Food Program has asked countries to respond to its appeal for 500 million dollars by May 1. And we’ve double checked and it just received indications of commitments for almost half of the money that it requires. But that’s not enough. It’s critical that governments confirm their commitments as soon as possible and that others begin to commit.” Zoellick was speaking after a meeting of the World Bank’s policy-setting committee in the nation’s capital. This is NPR News from Washington.

 Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Sudan’s Embassy in London today to demand that International peacekeepers be sent to the troubled Darfur region as soon as possible. The protestors had painted the palms of their hands white as a symbol of peace. The event was part of what organizers called “a global day for Darfur”.

 A power-sharing deal has been implemented 13 in Kenya. The country’s President Mwai Kibaki has named his rival to be prime minister. The two men agreed back in February to share power after weeks of deadly violence that followed the country’s disputed presidential election late last year.

 Former President Jimmy Carter says he feels at ease about his plans to meet with the senior Hamas leader in Syria over objections from the Bush administration. NPR’s Allison Keyes has that story.

 Mr. Carter says he supports the ongoing 14 peace effort there endorsed 15 by President Bush, Israel and Palestinians. But Mr. Carter says he will meet with Hamas because the militant 16 group will have to be included in any process to bring peace to the region. “I think that it’s very important at least someone meet with the Hamas leaders, er, to express their views, to ascertain 17 what flexibility 18 they have, to try to induce them to stop all attacks against innocent civilians 19 in Israel.” But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that she does not understand what would be gained by meeting with Hamas because the group is an impediment to peace. National Security Advisor 20 Steven Hadley says the position of the Bush administration is that Hamas is a terrorist organization and the US doesn’t negotiate with terrorist. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington.

 American Airlines says its fleet of MD-80 jetliners was back in full operation today. American cancelled 3,000 flights last week as part of an effort to make sure wiring on the aircraft met federal standards.