Britain delayed US strike on Iraq A former British ambassador to Washington said the US president came under intense pressure from some in his own military (Donald Rumsfeld? Paul Wolfowitz?) to attack Saddam Hussein in the days immediately after 911, but was pursuaded by Britain to "concentrate on the job at hand and the job at hand was get al-Qaeda".
Spanish forces arrest senior Sadr aid The aid is arrested in a pre-dawn raid at his home in Najaf, prompting thousands to take to the streets.
Iraqi shia cleric Moqtada Sadr goes on the offense After his newspaper was shut down and it became clear that Sadr was wanted for questioning in regards to the murder of another Iraqi cleric months ago, his forces, known as the Mehdi Army, attacked American and Iraqi positions. He has seized three police stations in Sadr City. Sadr told his followers to "terrorise" the enemy because protests had become useless.
President Bush vows to confront Sadr President Bush said regarding the violence, "We just can't let it stand."
Americans seal off Falluja US forces have surrounded Falluja cutting it off from the rest of country, in preparation for an "overwhelming" response to the attack that killed 4 US contractors, all former soldiers.
Sadr wanted An Iraqi judge (but appointed by America) issues an arrest warrant for Sadr in connection to the murder of a rival cleric months ago.
Sadr continues to fight 150 cars filled with Sadr supporters surrounded a Polish camp then left peacefully, as a show of force. An aide named Al-Khazali said "The uprising will continue and we will not negotiate unless they fulfil our demands, which are a withdrawal from populated areas and the release of prisoners." Americans re-captured some police stations.
Rebellion spreads as Sadr captures several cities Sadr went to Najaf and seized the Imam Ali mosque. The Mahdi Army fired mortars at a Spanish base, destroyed five armoured cars in Najaf, seven in Basra, and 12 in Nasiriya. They chased the Ukrainian forces out of Kut, a town 60 miles south of Baghdad. Sunnis and Shias are joining forces to battle coalition troops.
Iraqi rebels take foreign hostages Iraqi militants threaten to burn alive three Japanese hostages if Japan does not withdraw its troops from Iraq in three days. Japan has said they will not pull their 500 troops out of Iraq. As many as 8 other South Korean hostages were captured and later released, 2 Israeli-Arabs and a Canadian of Syrian descent are also being held.
Fierce fighting in Falluja More than 1,200 marines, backed by attack helicopters and fighter-bombers fought militants in house-to-house urban warefare for the fourth straight day in Falluja. Over 300 Iraqi cilivians and over a dozen Americans have been killed.
Anniversary of the fall of Baghdad US forces regained control of the southern city of Kut seized by Sadr supporters and unilaterally declared a "halt" in fighting in Falluja, they claimed to allow Sunni clerics and American military leaders an opportunity to negotiate with anti-coalition insurgents and to allow humanitarian aid into the city.
White house de-classifies Aug 6. memo Under pressure from the 911 commission, the PDB (Presidential Daily Briefing) from August 6, 2001, entitled "Bin Laden determined to strike in the United States" was released to the public. The document says the FBI was engaged in at least 70 Bin Laden related investigations and had seen "patterns of suspicious activity in this country consistent with preparations for hijackings or other types of attacks, including recent surveillance of federal buildings in New York." The White house continues to claim it's a historical document with no threat warnings.
Many hostages released in Iraq Twelve hostages were released and more are expected to be set free. The Association of Muslim Clerics issued a fatwa banning hostage taking, and held talks to try to secure the release of the remaining captives.
First killed hostage in Iraq Al-Jazeera claims it has footage of 1 of 4 Italian hostages being killed and the fighters threatening to kill the others 1 by 1 if their demands are not met. Since the hostage crises began, dozens of hostages have been taken and dozens have been released. Most countries have been telling their citizens to leave for a few days.
Iran quits negotiations with Americans over Iraq In a rare acknowledgement of official talks between the two countries, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi announced that Iran had ended talks with the United States over how to restore order in Iraq after concluding the negotiations were "going nowhere." He added that Washington's reliance on military force was fueling violence in Iraq. Iranian Foreign Ministry official Hossein Sadeghi was sent to Iraq to consult with the Governing Council.
Sadr offers truce in Najaf As US forces surrounded the city in preparation for an attack, Sadr sent a few envoys to negotiate. One of them said Sadr "realises that an armed confrontation is not in anybody's interest."
Senior Iranian diplomat gunned down in Iraq Iranian foreign ministry official Hossein Sadeghi described the murder as "savage". It is not known who is responsible, but the Iranian envoy has ruled out holding any talks with Sadr after earlier indications that a meeting was possible. Kharazi said his team was sent to Iraq at the request of the United States. Washington insisted instead that it was a British proposal which it did not oppose.
Sadr refuses to surrender Moktada al-Sadr said in Kufa that he was not willing to disband his army under any circumstances. "We have been trying to avoid bloodshed... everyone, not only the occupiers [had presented him with only unacceptable choices].
Sadr says hostages from non-occupying nations should be released Responding to Sadr's comments, hostages from countries not participating in the occupation were released. Also, footage of the first American soldier to be held hostage was released. The captives said they would trade him for prisoners being held be US forces.
Spain orders troops home Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero kept a campaign promise by announcing that he was ordering Spanish troops to leave Iraq "as soon as possible." Al-Sadr called for a halt to attacks on Spanish troops in Iraq.
18 mortar rounds hit Abu Gharib prison A mortar attack on a prison near Baghdad has killed at least 21 inmates and wounded more than 100 others.
Thailand's PM threatens to pull out of Iraq Thailand will withdraw its 451 medical and engineering troops from Iraq if they are attacked. "We do not go there to fight. If we get killed why should we stay?"
Honduras is pulling out of Iraq Around 370 Honduran soldiers have been clearing mines and providing medical care in central Iraq.
US forces claim to have made a deal in Falluja US officials in Baghdad claimed to have reached a agreement with civic leaders in Falluja but continued to threaten an invasion if their conditions are not met. The deal would end the seige in exchange for the surrender of heavy weapons. Those who hang in their weapons will not be charged. The fighters themselves it appears were not involved in the negotiations.
Baathists to be hired by America Some 400,000 people were sent home by US forces when they captured Baghdad. The new policy would allow some of these people and some skilled senior Baathists to reclaim their jobs.
New Iraqi flag revealed After a competition, the new Iraqi flag was revealed by the Governing Council to negative reviews from Iraqis. They complained that it resembles too closely the flag of Israel.
US Marines will end the siege of Fallujah They announced they will allow a newly established Iraqi security force, called the Falluja Protective Army, under the leadership of a former Iraqi Army General, to move into the city. Later in the day they said the deal is not finished.
Americans torturing Iraqi prisoners Six U.S. soldiers in Iraq are facing court martial for abusing and torturing Iraqi prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, a facility known for torture under Saddam Hussein. Images of the abuse were first aired on CBS.
