Battles Ease, Iraq PM Offers Amnesty for Some

By Scott Simon,

Ivan Watson

Published August 6, 2004 at 11:00 PM CDT

Clashes between Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's supporters and U.S. forces continue to erupt in Baghdad and Najaf, but reportedly the battles have lessened in intensity. Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi extends an olive branch. Hear NPR's Scott Simon and NPR's Ivan Watson.

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Scott Simon

Scott Simon is one of America's most admired writers and broadcasters. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and is one of the hosts of NPR's morning news podcast Up First. He has reported from all fifty states, five continents, and ten wars, from El Salvador to Sarajevo to Afghanistan and Iraq. His books have chronicled character and characters, in war and peace, sports and art, tragedy and comedy.

See stories by Scott Simon

Ivan Watson

Ivan Watson is currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. Following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he has served as one of NPR's foreign "firemen," shuttling to and from hotspots around the Middle East and Central Asia.