The Iraqi Army, under the personal command of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki, is battling Moqtada al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia for control of Iraq's second city, Basra. Despite a demand from the Shia dominated central government to lay down their arms, Shia militiamen hold parts of the city after three days. Government forces have called upon American airpower and British artillery for support as fierce fighting continues in the southern oil hub. [map credit: UK Guardian]Update: Iranian religious leaders brokered a ceasefire in Basra on Sunday. Despite instructions from Moqtada al Sadr to cease fire, new rocket attacks on the US controlled "green zone" occurred today in Baghdad.